Welfare reform

I refer to the leader (June 9) under the heading Old Habits Die Hard.

On behalf of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin I would like to make the following comment to put the record straight with regard to your assertion that: "It had first wanted to tackle the problem before the last budget but the social partners asked for more time to be able to discuss the plan at Malta Council for Economic and Social Development level".

The UHM for one has strongly objected to the implementation of welfare reform because the government was not in a position to substantiate its stand with figures. So much so that the government has commissioned a report from the World Bank which, in November 2003, was neither available nor ready.

One can hardly expect the social partners to discuss a sensitive issue such as welfare reform without the necessary documentation. In fact, this document was made available to the social partners at MCESD level some time after it was promised.

In any event and circumstance, the UHM shall continue to strive for measures and solutions which are primarily based on social justice and far from the rhetoric and politically motivated jargon which steers any election in Malta.