The government is not objecting to the Forum of Maltese Unions being represented on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The government's stand was expressed in a reply by Public Dialogue Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said to a letter sent last Tuesday by Forum representative John Bencini.

Dr Said reminded the Forum that any change in the composition of the MCESD had to be unanimously agreed upon by all the social partners, as had been emphasised on numerous occasions.

He said the government did not wish to impose on social partners, however, there had to be an agreement between all parties involved.

It would be acting in an arbitrary manner if it changed the law on the council's composition without such agreement.

According to Dr Said, in his letter, Mr Bencini asked that the Forum be represented on the core group of the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee. He added that the Forum had not replied to repeated requests by Meusac to meet and agree on such participation.

Meusac had nine sectoral committees, where consultation on particular proposals took place but many of the unions within the Forum opted not to be represented even though the committees discussed matters that directly affected their members, Dr Said noted.