The legal notice announcing the new energy tariffs published while the Prime Minister was still consulting unions increased economic and social instability, the Labour Party's spokesman on finance, Charles Mangion said.

He said such action also ridiculed the discussion process with the social partners on matters that greatly affected Maltese families and economic operators.

The country, Dr Mangion said, needed a clear direction. The government had to decide whether it wanted to consult or to do as it pleased, bringing about instability in the process.

If the government wanted to successfully face the present situation, it had to explain its direction to families and economic operators, he insisted.

Dr Mangion said the fact that the legal notices were to be amended confirmed that there was administrative incoherence. The challenges ahead required a clear direction so that economic and social stability would be strengthened.

He said that the government should embark on a process to address Enemalta's shortcomings and inefficiencies. Rather than taking money from the people's pockets, it should strengthen wages and ensure entrepreneurial success.