‘Non-disclosure agreement safeguards Air Malta’ - government

Government said it is in the interest of both Air Malta and the country for confidentiality to be respected during restructuring talks.

Last Sunday, MaltaToday reported how the Labour party's representatives on the Air Malta steering committee were asked, but refused, to sign the non-disclosure agreement.

Government defended its position, claiming “this is to safeguard the interest of the company and its workers. The competition in aviation is extremely fierce and therefore, the Opposition’s insistence not to respect confidentiality shows it does not care about the national interest.”

During his weekly speech last Sunday, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat said he will not be tied down to the confidentiality contract. “How can I be bound not to reveal to the Maltese people any mistakes which might have led to the crisis?” Muscat had asked.

But government now insists that it would be damaging to Malta, to the airline and to its workers if information reaches Air Malta’s competitors, “like the Opposition wants”.

With reference to the GWU’s statement in which it warned it will not approve the Air Malta’s restructuring plan created by Ernst & Young unless it was discussed and agreed upon prior to implementation, government called “for caution”. It said that the Air Malta Restructuring Committee has not yet been asked to approve the plan which will be sent to the European Commission. “Thus the stand taken by the General Workers’ Union jars with the ongoing discussions within the Committee,” it said.

However, the Ministry of Finance said that following an extensive review by the consulting company, the plan was placed before the Committee for consideration: “All those who are in the Committee were asked to see the report and give their position on what is being proposed.

“The GWU also knows that following an Ernst & Young presentation to the Committee, the consultants were asked to carry out fundamental changes, which changes are being worked upon,” the Ministry said.

In its statement, government also appealed “for everyone to respect the process being done to bring Air Malta back on track and thus contribute to the economic growth, particularly in the tourism and foreign trade sectors.”

“If the process fails, the consequences will be negative,” it informed. “Government is working so that Air Malta regains viability. This is a sensitive process and government cannot abdicate from its responsibility to submit the plane to the Commission.”

Government reiterated it is in the interest of both the company and Malta to respect the confidentiality of what is discussed during the Committee’s meetings and of the reports created and submitted.

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i guess the non disclosure agreement is there to safeguard the secret of their success and not to allow anyone to copy that success...............oh wait a moment ,success????