Government is hoping to close the chapter on the hotly disputed Article 64 of the Industrial Relations Bill by Tuesday with the blessing of all the social partners, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.
Article 64 deals with the clause on essential services which prevents certain categories of workers from striking.
Dr Gonzi said he was prepared to meet the constituted bodies before Tuesday, when the parliamentary committee discussing the law is scheduled to meet, to iron out any differences and hopefully reach an agreement that was acceptable to everyone.
He was speaking to reporters following a meeting with the constituted bodies of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, in which the parties found a "lot of common ground".
Dr Gonzi said he had clarified a number of issues related to Article 64 which had raised the concern of unions and employers.
One bone of contention is the clause which the unions believe would give the prime minister the prerogative to extend the list of services deemed as essential.
"The parliamentary committee will meet again on Tuesday evening and my hope is that I will have a formula that is acceptable to everybody. If not, then I am prepared to postpone that clause (64) and continue discussion with others," Dr Gonzi said.
He said it was in the interest of all workers that the Employment and Industrial Relations Act will be finalised without further delay.
But, he stressed, the government preferred finding a formula that was acceptable to all rather than hurrying to conclude the issue.
"Even if we can't close all clauses of the law by Tuesday, I hope that we can continue - even after the summer recess," he said.
Dr Gonzi described yesterday's meeting as mature and constructive. He said everyone accepted that there was an opportunity to change the employment laws and bring the country forward.
He said yesterday's meeting proved that the MCESD was functioning well and offered potential for progress.
Dr Gonzi was only asked whether he could attend an hour or so before yesterday's meeting, since his presence was seen as "important".
At an unscheduled news conference, MCESD chairman Edward Scicluna reiterated that yesterday's meeting was a positive one since each member spoke in the national interest.
Though there had not been agreement on all clauses, Prof. Scicluna said it was positive that Dr Gonzi showed flexibility and was prepared to meet the social partners before Tuesday to iron out any differences.
Prof. Scicluna said another technical point of interpretation was the definition of bonuses and wages, so that it would be ensured that any statutory allowances would be given in cash and not in kind.