The General Workers' Union yesterday launched a new corporate identity, saying this was the beginning of a process to renew itself and become closer to Maltese workers.

In a ceremony held on the eve of the union's 66th anniversary and attended by the country's leaders, general secretary Tony Zarb said that being the largest union in Malta, it had to continue to renew itself without losing the basic principles on which it was founded on October 5, 1943.

The fresh look includes a new logo, a refurbished entrance to its headquarters - the Workers' Memorial Building in Valletta - and a revamped website. All this, Mr Zarb said, was part of bringing the union closer to the workers.

The union had always been credible, competent and consistent and this was the way forward, he said.

Union president Victor Carachi remarked that while 66 years ago the union was striving to improve workers' working conditions, now it was focusing on improving their standard of living and that of their families. In a brief address, President George Abela spoke about the need for a national union to renew itself, especially at a time when the world was passing through a recession that had seen the loss of five million jobs in EU countries in just 12 months.

He said he was pleased to see that social dialogue in Malta was becoming increasingly important and that social partners and the government were working together to give a breath of fresh air to the country's economy which was still on the road to recovery.

The event was also attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat while the refurbished entrance was blessed by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca.