A group of 11 trade unions will remain out of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development after the social partners failed to agree on a way to let them in without upsetting the existing balance on the council.
The MCESD met on Friday and decided to turn down the request to join made by the unions, who go by the name of Forum.
In a statement yesterday, Forum accused the government of dragging its feet over the issue for five years and passing the buck to the council "when it knew there was nothing in the law which tied it down to seeking the council's consent to amend the law". It said the MCESD's composition had already been changed without a vote or consensus. Forum spokesman Paul Pace accused the government of only paying lip service to social dialogue and a social pact while it turned its back on a confederation of 11 unions representing a wide range of workers.
"Nothing or no one will shut this confederation's mouth, and it will continue, day after day, month after month and year after year exposing the hypocrisy of this government until perhaps it comes to its senses and stops its politics of exclusivity," Mr Pace said.
Currently, the MCESD consists of two representatives from the General Workers' Union, two from the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, and a member each from Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, the Confederation of Maltese Trade Unions, the Malta Employers' Association, the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. The government has five members on the council.
Reacting to the statement, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Consumers, Fair Competition and Public Consultation said the government could not "just impose a change on the structure of the MCESD".
It said that during Friday's meeting, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said had suggested the setting up of a working group to discuss Forum's request, after which it would have recommended a change in the law governing the MCESD. This suggestion was rejected.
The statement referred to a letter Dr Said had sent to Forum president John Bencini on February 20, in which he described the MCESD's composition as a delicate balance between employers and employees which had to be retained.
This echoes the argument used last November by GRTU general director Vince Farrugia, who said the present structure was balanced between government, employers and unions, and including Forum on the council would create an imbalance.
"Now if the trade unions want to see Forum there, it is up to them to make way for its representative. If the unions resist this and the Forum wants to join as an additional member, then no way," he said.
MEA general director Joe Farrugia had also said his association was not opposed so long as one of the unions currently on the council gave up one of their seats.
The GWU and CMTU had said they were in favour of Forum joining but the CMTU felt this might require a rethink of the way things were done on the MCESD.