General Workers Union general secretary Tony Zarb said that this morning the Prime Minister called him and told him about the memorandum of understanding with China.

He told him to pass on a message to Enemalta employees that Government will remain responsible for them and they will remain working there.

Mr Zarb also said that he did not agree that the Government should give a tax amnesty, as had been reported.

He said he contacted the Finance Minister to say he did not agree with it as workers and pensioners were paying taxes and those who evaded them were forgiven. The minister told him he was misquoted and that tax must be paid but those who owed taxes would be given more time to pay.

Speaking about his future in the union, he said he met all officials who felt he should continue serving as general secretary for the next two years because he had more to give.

So last week he formally put forward his nomination for the role of general secretary and will be putting forward a proposal for a smooth transition after the two years are up. The term of general secretary is of four years but, after two years, Mr Zarb turns 62 and has to step down in line with the statute.

He said that during the October congress he will elaborate on how Nationalist Leader Simon Busuttil, who will be present, urged employees to leave the GWU and join the Union Haddiema Maghqudin.