CMTU calls for "real" social dialogue

The Confederation of Malta Trade Unions has called for "real" social dialogue and the creation of a mechanism for the resolution of industrial disputes in the public service.

The confederation expressed concern that even as parliament was debating new industrial relations legislation, two of its affiliate trade unions, the UHM and the MUT, had been in dispute with the government for weeks and there was still no sign of a solution.

The social partners over the past few weeks had attended seminars where the importance of social dialogue was emphasised. Nobody could disagree with what had been said, but it seemed everything was said on paper only and nothing concrete happened.

The solution to industrial disputes lay in social dialogue. But when agreement was not reached, a mechanism needed to be set up for dispute resolution in the public sector, much as existed for the private sector. Unfortunately the proposed new legislation did not provide for this, the CMTU said.