The council of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, GRTU, has again expressed its confidence in its director general Vince Farrugia, who, it said in a statement, was the victim of continuous personal attacks by the secretary general of the General Workers' Union.

The issue began in January when, during the television programme Affari Tagħna, Mr Zarb quoted from MCESD minutes saying Mr Farrugia had referred to workers, who according to the GWU were doing precarious jobs, as rats. Mr Farrugia denied this and even filed a libel suit against Mr Zarb.

The GRTU council said it was grateful for Mr Farrugia's work on behalf of the self-employed and businessmen and unreservedly condemned the GWU's attacks on his integrity.