The Consumer Affairs Ministry has refuted claims by employers that the majority of new chairmen appointed to the Industrial Tribunal have come from a trade union background.

It also denied that cases previously handled by chairmen who had resigned would have to start from scratch.

The law states “a person actually serving as chair-person of the tribunal shall, notwithstanding the removal of his name from the panel, continue so to serve in the proceedings in which he is serving as chairperson until the conclusion of those proceedings and for the purpose of the interpretation of any award given therein,” the ministry said.

The Chamber of Small Enterprises, GRTU, and Malta Employers Association both expressed concern at the situation at the Industrial Tribunal, after it was revealed by Times of Malta that the Government had asked a number of chairmen to resign.

A chairperson of the tribunal shall continue to serve until the conclusion of proceedings

The employers’ association expressed serious concerns that the majority of new appointees come from the trade union camp and have an employment history or close connections with one particular union.

It was not questioning the credentials of the individuals, some of whom had served on the tribunal for years without any issues.

However, the way they were selected and its overall composition “creates a negative perception of the tribunal’s impartiality”, which could jeopardise its role as an objective body.

The association also said it disagreed with how chairmen were asked to offer their resignation and that some were removed even though they had pending cases.

It appealed to the Government to reconsider these appointments and find consensus with social partners to ensure an effective tribunal respected by employers, unions and society.

Meanwhile, the GRTU expressed disappointment with the way things had unfolded as the former panel had been appointed following consensus among the social partners. The request to resign was very strange and no consensus had been sought for the new