The Prime Minister's opposition to expanding the Freeport further inland was premature and of great concern to workers there, UĦM Voice of the Workers said today.

In a statement, the union said that the Freeport required constant investment to remain competitive, and that this included extending its footprint to ensure it could continue to attract shipping vessels to Maltese shores. 

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday told a conference that he favoured creating a series of free trade warehouses rather than extend the Freeport further inland. 

UĦM argued that the Freeport Terminal had contributed a great deal to the Maltese economy, saying that more than €230 million in Foreign Direct Investment had come its way since privatisation and that it created 1,800 jobs, directly and indirectly. 

The union said that it was not opposed to sustainable development, provided the necessary environmental studies have been carried out. Dr Muscat, the union said, had categorically excluded extending the Freeport without any such studies having been carried out.  

With their livelihoods at stake, workers were justified in demanding answers about the government's plans and how they would affect the Freeport, UĦM said.