The government said today that it is of the view that the FORUM of trade unions should be part of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).

It was reacting after the FORUM complained yesterday about not having been invited to a meeting of the council which in the morning discussed the Caritas report on poverty.

The FORUM said it had been given to understand by the prime minister in a meeting on April 22 that it would become a member of the council. Therefore it wondered whether these were empty promises.

In its reaction, the Ministry of Justice and Public Dialogue said that Minister Chris Said made it clear during the meeting that the government felt the FORUM should be a member of the council and should be invited to its meetings even before the law was changed. Until the law was changed, FORUM should have observer status.

Paul Pace, who issued yesterday's FORUM statement, said on PBS that the FORUM did not want observer status but full membership.

Dr Said said that would be only until the law was changed.

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