Former Polish President and Solidarity trade union leader Lech Walesa is in Malta to promote Poland's bid to host Expo 2012 in the city of Wroclaw.
He called on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi (picture) and President Emeritus Guido de Marco and met officials of the UHM. In the evening he is due to call on President Eddie Fenech Adami.
Speaking to UHM officials Gejtu Tanti and Gejtu Vella, Mr Walesa said he used to ask for pay rises when he was a union leader but as President as he was "on the other side of the coin and saw things differently".
He stressed that trade unions were important as "no employer or government gives anything unless demands are made".