The Malta Employers’ Association said today that it has warned the government and the MUT that excessive increases in the remuneration packages of academic staff at the University will create labour market distortions and lead to similar claims in both the private and public sector which many companies, and the public sector itself, cannot entertain.

“The negotiations cannot be based exclusively on a comparison between what academics earn locally and abroad, but should also take into consideration the relativities between the academics’ package and that of other professions in Malta. The exorbitant claims that are being made are far removed from the realities of the Maltese labour market,” the MEA said.

“During a time of international recession, when the man in the street is expected to feel the pinch on his purchasing power, an agreement that doubles the remuneration package of a particular group of employees will create a justified uproar from the rest of society. The discussions should also factor in the fact that the budget allocation for the University is not just there to pay salaries, but also to improve the facilities that are necessary for better academic standards.”

The association appealed to the government and the unions involved to reach a settlement that respects the value of the lecturers’ work and contribution to society, without turning them into a privileged class.