Social dialogue, improved industrial relations result in ‘sustainable future’

Family Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca together with European Commissioner for Social Affairs László Andor launched LEAP, a project tackling social mobility and the fight against social exclusion.

The Commissioner also met with members of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development during which he highlighted the importance of economic policies being intertwined with a social agenda.

"This project should be seen as promoting an effort to take care of long-term productivity and tackle economic weaknesses which might grow in the future," Andor told the MCESD.

He argued that social investment was not only key to addressing social problems but to also enhance economic policies.

With the European Union still reeling from the financial crisis, the 28 member countries have to work for sustainable growth. This, Andro said, could not be achieved without social dialogue.

"The current economic climate is not very favourable for industrial relations. Some argue that it is an impediment to competitiveness, although no studies have ever proven this. In reality, countries with strong social dialogue have a favourable economy and less strains," he said.

Reflecting Malta's willingness in opening up social dialogue, Minister Helena Dalli said that even though MCESD was criticsed for focusing more on the economic, rather than the social, aspects, the council was happy with the results.

"We want LEAP to be a success and all representatives of the civil society, unions, employers and other stakeholders are all on board," she said.

Coleiro Preca, the minister responsible from the implementation of the project, said LEAP would restructure social policy where the approach would be more community-based.

"The idea is to have early intervention and timely action to address poverty. But most importantly, poverty has to be owned by everyone. This is a collective responsibility which requires the whole of society to come together and address the precarious situations if we are to build a fairer society," she said.