The Opposition has given notice of a motion in parliament calling on the government to stop the introduction of  a service charge for tenants at industrial zones.

The motion, presented by party industry spokesman Chris Cardona, calls for a study on the impact of such a service charge - which will be some €7 per square metre -  and wide consultation with stakeholders. It says that any contrbution should be fair and should lead to better upkeep of industrial zones without new unjustified burdens on the tenants.

In a reaction, Malta Industrial Parks and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a joint statement said they could not understand the purpose of the motion.

They said that a service charge has existed for many years, but it is not being applied in a uniform manner. Furthermore, the charge has not been raised since the 1990s. Most tenants in industrial estates do not currently pay a service charge while others pay between 42c and €3.80 per square metre.

The two organisatiuons said they have been holding talks on the service charge and have reached agreement on many aspects. The charge, they said,  is not a revenue-raising measure but aimed at covering the costs for better maintenance of industrial zones.