The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin’s general secretary, Gejtu Vella slammed as “excessive” the pay rise ministers gave themselves.
Echoing the criticism by the Labour Party, Mr Vella said the union “believes parliamentarians and ministers should have an adequate salary but the way this has been done is not sensitive to the difficulties workers, pensioners and their families are going through right now”.
“We would have expected this process to take place more responsibly,” Mr Vella said, adding MPs should lead by example.
It is estimated the pay and honoraria increases for MPs and the Cabinet will cost taxpayers €4 million this legislature.
Asked if the pay in this case was deemed “adequate” by the union, Mr Vella said that “in the current circumstances, the pays are excessive and should not have been given at this stage”.
Speaking at a union activity in Qawra, Mr Vella criticised the way the power station extension contract was awarded, saying that just as justice not only had to be done but must also be seen to be done, the contract “not only has to be clean and transparent but also seen to be so”.
He said that as long as there were lingering doubts on the way the contract was awarded, the country would never understand the benefits of the new extension. Mr Vella called on politicians to come clean on the matter.
Another matter of concern to the union and its members, Mr Vella said, was the international situation where demonstrations, general strikes and protests were taking place, adding that “whatever happens abroad will affect Malta too”.
He said the UĦM had been working on a document – A Social Vision For You 2015. He hoped the document would be adopted on a national basis by the time the union met for its general conference in October.