The recently announced increases in the prices of fuel and gas this morning came under criticism by the For.Um Unions Maltin.

In a statement, it said that while other EU governments were doing their utmost to reduce energy costs at a time when the world was going through a crisis, the Maltese government was creating major internal waves which were destroying families, pensioners, widows and widowers and others going through difficulties.

The For.Um, which is made up of 10 unions, said that the government could not have chosen a worst time to come up with the increases which would continue to increase the cost of living. The government had lost its social conscience and removed the subsidy on gas when this was permissable by the EU.

It appealed to the government to really start believing in social dialogue and consult and listen to what the social partners had to say. It hoped to contribute in the MCESD when it was accepted to pro-actively take part in this council.