The UĦM has called for greater control of pricing abuse, stressing that any such efforts should not only be seen to be carried out, but also concretely felt, in the interest of protecting the consumer.

Speaking at a UĦM activity held yesterday in Qawra, general secretary Gejtu Vella expressed concern over July's cost-of-living increase, the largest in the eurozone.

Such a rise in prices, coupled with the surcharge on utilities, warranted government compensation to keep up with the cost of living effective as from October 1, he said. Such measures would offset the declining quality of life enjoyed by workers and pensioners.

The UĦM also insists, Mr Vella said, that another step should be taken in the revision of income tax, so as the increase the workers' take-home pay. Those families who do not benefit from the reform because they do not pay tax should be given financial compensation equivalent to what families receive as a benefit from the income tax reform, he proposed.

Mr Vella insisted that the government could not continue to delay taking concrete steps against inflation, adding that the Office for Fair Trade should be strengthened to enable it to take action against "cartels" and other such abusive practices.

He also called on the government to revise the utilities surcharge so as to penalise excess and not basic usage.

He also called for an end to the employment of irregular immigrants with deplorable pay and conditions.

The union, he said, was appealing to the authorities to monitor the situation in Marsa, where irregular immigrants gather in the streets seeking a day's work.

Regarding the issue of irregular immigration, Mr Vella said the UĦM is expecting the government to continue lobbying in the various institutions within the European Union to secure financial as well as material aid with which the problem can be seriously addressed.