Journalists invited by the government to cover a meeting of the Malta Council of Economic and Social Development were yesterday asked to leave following objections from two of the social partners.

The Malta Employers Association was due to give a presentation to outline its proposals for changes to the Employment and Industrial Relations Act of 2002.

However, when members of the media entered the room, MEA president Arthur Muscat questioned their presence.

The MCESD chairman, John Bencini, remarked that it was standard practice for the media to be invited only for the opening exchanges of a meeting and then allow the debate to take place behind closed doors.

The atmosphere was already tense when the general secretary of the General Workers Union, Tony Zarb, interjected saying it would be unfair to allow the media to report the employers’ views only.

With Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli visibly embarrassed by this unexpected mishap, Mr Bencini asked whether there were any objections to the media’s presence.

There was a silence until Mr Zarb reiterated his objection, much to the dismay of some of the other representatives of the social partners.

As a result, all members of the media were ushered back out and the meeting was held behind closed doors.