GWU welcomes moratorium on loans to hotels

The General Workers' Union yesterday welcomed the moratorium on capital repayments that banks have offered to hotels.

General secretary Tony Zarb asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, to keep the union informed about any developments regarding the moratorium.

The two yesterday held a meeting during which they discussed employment in the tourism sector.

Dr de Marco said the government was working to ease the negative impact of the international economic crisis on employment in the industry through increased investment in marketing. He said the government was also trying to make the country more accessible by encouraging more airlines to fly to and from the island.

Mr Zarb said the union was exploiting its contacts with unions overseas to bring them to the country, with the first group expected to arrive in the coming weeks.