Industrial action at the planning authority was suspended following an agreement between the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin and the authority's management.

The main bone of contention was the outsourcing of employees who, the union claimed, were being offered inferior conditions to those on similar positions within Mepa.

Following yesterday's agreement, in fact, clerks supplied by specialised secretarial companies will be replaced by authority employees while temporary workers will be given second preference over regular employees.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority agreed to solve the odour problem at Hexagon House, where the environment protection division was transferred, the union said.

The union said more issues were to be discussed in the next two weeks.

The industrial action had led to a breakdown of communication between the authority and its clients.

People calling to enquire about planning applications or requiring any other information were left high and dry as employees followed 10 directives issued by the union last year, which included not answering phone calls and e-mails.