Economic Services Minister Chris Cardona has postponed a meeting he was due to have with Monti hawkers after only four of the 74 licence holders turned up, the ministry said.
The meeting was to have discussed the future of the Valletta open market and its location.
The ministry said that a higher number of sellers would have been expected for such an important meeting, and the meeting had therefore been postponed.
It said the government viewed the relocation of the open market as a sensitive issue and it would be treated with caution to ensure that everybody's interests are respected.