Around 30 workers at the EU programmes agency are following directives ordered by their union after the government proposed a wage cut.

Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin section secretary Isabelle Farrugia said the employees have been ordered not to answer any telephones, emails or other correspondence and also not to participate in activities outside their working hours.

She said the industrial dispute was registered after the union received the government proposed financial package which was inferior to the package workers currently enjoyed. Discussions were under way on a new collective agreement to replace one that expired in 2012.

No headway was made during a meeting with the Director of Employment and Industrial Relations, forcing the union to issue the directives.

Ms Farrugia did not exclude further action if the matter is not resolved.