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Karl Schembri
Unions warned government of troubles to come if it implements its controversial public holidays measure, soon after announcing failed discussions with employers yesterday at a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
The meeting was abruptly brought to a close in a stalemate yesterday afternoon with both sides blaming each other for the failed discussions.
Employers shot down the unions’ proposals presented as an alternative to the government’s public holidays measure, saying they would be ineffective in boosting the country’s competitiveness.
Unions on the other hand said employers were only interested in the holidays measure and were “unwilling to share the burden with workers”.
“Today we were surprised by the employers, who accepted none of our proposals,” Prof. Edward Zammit said when speaking on behalf of the unions at a press conference yesterday afternoon. “It is evident that employers have closed the door to further discussions, although we insist on leaving it open and appeal to government to resume talks. It would be a great mistake for government to legislate its proposed measure on its own.”
Present for the MCESD meeting, Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech suggested removing two days annual vacation leave in a bid to solve the impasse, on condition that unions and employers continued discussions to reach a social pact that would include other measures. Unions however disagreed.
While the unions' proposals remain under wraps, employers said they would not reach the desired result if implemented.
"The proposals submitted by the unions re-opened a number of points that were previously being discussed within the context of a social pact, but still would not reach the intended result," employers' representatives said in a joint statement issued yesterday evening.
They said the government's public holidays measure was "the least that government could have taken" to improve productivity and that on its own it will be insufficient to solve the economic problems.
"The way the budget measure has been turned into a controversy does not augur well for an improved economic scenario," employers said. "The constituted bodies expect the unions to show a deeper appreciation of economic realities in the interest of their members and the country as a whole."
Employers said they would only continue discussions with unions "provided the issue of public holidays is solved first and used as a basis for further negotiations" that would lead to a social pact. But unions warned government not insist on its measure unless it wanted to face serious consequences.
In their seperate statements after the failed discussions, both sides blamed each other for lacking good will.
"Employers stopped the discussions; unions were the last to leave the meeting," Prof. Zammit said.
"Employer bodies showed good faith and accepted the recommendation by the parliamentary secretary to unblock the situation." the employers said.
"The refusal by the unions created an impasse and as a result led to a breakdown in the discussions."
"Both sides are miles apart," Fenech said yesterday night. "Unions turned down my proposal; employers accepted it with some reservations, so we're basically in a stalemate."
Inviting unions and employers to reflect further on his proposal, Fenech said this will be the last week for unions and employers to reach an agreement before government implements its original proposal as announced in the budget speech.
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