News • 02 March 2003

PM calls Sant’s ‘wait and see’ attitude on referendum anti-democratic

Overtime will not end, Labour peddling a repetitive lie - PM

By Matthew Vella

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said the Labour leader’s attitude towards the referendum, and his statement that it will be a ‘hollow’ referendum, is "anti-democratic."

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant were yesterday engaged in a thought-provoking debate on EU accession and Labour’s Partnership strategy, on State radio.

Fenech Adami said Sant’s letter stipulating the referendum should be decided by a 60 per cent majority of cast votes was undemocratic.

Answering questions from the chair, PBS journalist Ivan Camilleri, Sant reiterated that he will be waiting until the result of the referendum is known so as to interpret the result.

Asked whether he would be including those who did not vote during the referendum in the ‘no’ camp Sant repeated his ‘wait and see’ answer.

Rebutting, Dr Fenech Adami said the people were interested to know now in what manner the Labour leader would be interpreting the result, and whether Dr Sant would be ignoring the result.

Sant said the referendum, being consultative, could only bind the government sanctioning it:

"This referendum is Fenech Adami’s baby. He wants to be the judge, jury, prosecution, defence and executioner all throughout this game. If this is his preferred game, he can go ahead and play it.

"This referendum has been called ‘hollow’ because it can only be a government with enough time of its legislature left and that can implement its foreign policy, that can call such a referendum. That is why the general elections will decide the course of this nation."

Sant was asked by the chair whether he confirmed rumours that Labour would do a U-turn on the EU should the majority vote ‘yes’ in the referendum and whether if that were the case he would resign as Labour leader.

"I don’t take notice of such speculation," was Sant’s reply.

Listeners-in also had time to put questions to both leaders on several other issues related to EU accession.

The ‘overtime’ was brought up, with Fenech Adami stating that overtime for workers had not ended with the Malta-EU accession treaty:

"Whoever says so is lying. This a repetitive lie being peddled by Labour. If workers wish to continue working overtime, they can do so, but their employers cannot force them to work overtime.

"The EU rule on overtime protects workers and prevents their exploitation by preventing employers who, instead of employing more people, demand longer hours from their workers. The EU rules clearly state that employers cannot force employees to work for more than 40 hours a week and eight hours overtime, unless the worker agrees to do so."

In a weak rejoinder, Sant said the issue had been brought up by Deputy Leader Joe Brincat who noticed a discrepancy between EU rules on overtime and the Accession Treaty.

Explaining the ‘partnership’ option, Sant said Malta’s best contribution to the EU would not come by taking on all its rules, positive and negative.

"Our best contribution will come by applying those rules which suit Malta’s circumstances. We are not trying to make people fear the EU. It is the ‘yes’ camp that is scaring everyone with prospects of investors turning away from the island if we do not enter the EU.

"This is a choice between two programmes, Government’s full EU membership, and Labour’s partnership. The choice is not in our out, but which direction, full membership or partnership, will attack Malta’s social basis, and who will have to incur the increase in the cost of living."