Concern at the prolonged industrial action at Enemalta has been expressed by the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

The chamber said it understood that the industrial action was ordered after Enemalta transferred a handful of workers with a view to safeguard their long-term employment. In response, the union issued directives to all its members at Enemalta to refrain from using ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning - which is the software used by all Enemalta operations). The union also prohibited communication.

Such industrial action was deemed disproportionate and most detrimental to innocent parties who were extraneous to the dispute including business and ordinary citizens, it said.

The chamber said that since these directives were ordered, business and ordinary citizens had, in fact, incurred extra costs, inconvenience and disruption. The directives also led to a worsening of the bureacracy involved in MEPA permit application processes.

“In the light of the above, the Malta Chamber also understands that the case stands before the Industrial Tribunal and augurs for the issue to be decided without delay.

“Meanwhile, the Malta Chamber appeals to the union to suspend its directives during the hearing of this case.”