(Adds Enemalta statement)

The General Workers Union has strongly condemned a proposal made at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development for Enemalta to reudce its workforce by 25 to 50 per cent.

The proposal was made while the council was discussing Enemalta.

The GWU said that the proposal was made when it was clear that the corporation's biggest problem was the purchase of oil which amounted to 70 per cent of its expenditure and the debt which had accumulated in past years.

The union said it had been working towards the reorganisation of each section of the corporation for the past four years with the aim of workers becoming more flexible.

This process was not concluded in every sector and the union encouraged the corporation to increase efforts for the process to close in a short time for the benefit of both parties.

The union said that none of the social partners should arrive at certain conclusions before knowing the facts.

Many times, assumptions led to the wrong results and such declarations created unnecessary tensions among workers and could lead to fatalities.

In a statement issued later today, Enemalta said no proposals on the reduction of workers were made by the corporation during the MCESD meeting.