The Forum group of trade union referred today to the 58c cost of living increase planned for the budget and said the government should ensure that workers have a decant salary and a proper standard of living.

In a statement the group said it was insisting that 'the governemnt' should revise the formula which determines the cost if living.

It said it was thanks to the 'prudence and wisdom' of the trade unions in their responsible wage demands that the country had not suffered the economic hardships of other countries.

"Now that the country seems to be making an economic recovery, the workers too should benefit from the generation of wealth. The government needs to address workers' salaries, either through the cost of living adjustment mechanism (Cola) or other means in order to have a fair distribution of wealth," the Forum said. 

Maltese workers deserved to have the same conditions as other workers in the EU and should not remain second class citizens.