The government has ruled out the possibility of suspending the controversial utility tariffs pending talks with the social partners insisting that such contacts would, if anything, lead to mitigation measures and initiatives to cut consumption but not different rates.

Following a meeting with President George Abela yesterday, the Għaqda Unions Maltin, which is organising tomorrow's protest in Valletta, said it would call off the demonstration and would expect the Labour Party to withdraw its motion to be discussed in Parliament on Monday should the government suspend the new tariffs pending talks.

But a spokesman for the Finance Minister, who after the recent Cabinet reshuffle took over political responsibility for both Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation, said the suspension of the rates, which unions were asking for before tomorrow's protest, "was not being considered".

He said discussions with the social partners would continue anyway because they were not about the tariffs but about measures to reduce consumption.

The government had already catered for the impact of the energy bills with a €10 million rebate that would cover 97 per cent of families, the spokesman noted.

Following the meeting with the President, Għaqda chairman John Bencini confirmed that one of the unions within the Forum grouping, the Enemalta Professional Officers' Union, would still participate in the protest despite it being against the members' own employer. However, they would "keep a low profile", Mr Bencini said.

He said the protest was being backed by 63 per cent of unionised workers and by a number of organisations and political parties, including the Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika.

The Nationalist Party, the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions, which includes the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, as well as various employers declared they would not attend.

Meanwhile, the police confirmed yesterday that a permit for tomorrow's protest had been issued in terms of the Public Meetings Ordinance.