The General Workers' Union yesterday accused the government of piling further pressure on families by raising the price of gas for the second time in four months.
It said it could not understand how the government had declared it could not control the cost of living when it continued to cause the inflation rate to go up.
The last thing people expected was a rise in prices, when business was under threat in the global economic crisis, the GWU said.
The rise was announced by the government last weekend.
A 12-kilogram cylinder of gas will now cost €10.50, up from €7.40, while a 10-kilogram cylinder is priced at €9 instead of €6.40.