Talk about the need to reach a tripartite social pact has resurfaced once again, after the matter had been kept quietly under raps in the months leading to the election, probably in fear that the ripples caused would have been harmful to the government.

First it was the Central Bank Governor, Michael C. Bonello, who spoke about the need to create a social pact during a business breakfast organised by The Malta Business Weekly. He said there is a need for another attempt to reach this goal for Malta to be able to face the challenges coming its way because of the international situation regarding energy and food prices.

Then it was the turn of Social Policy Minister John Dalli who expressed himself in favour of reaching a social pact that will create a much-needed safety net for both employers and employees. The minister said that Malta cannot sit back and be complacent in view of the effects of globalisation, and in particular the ever-rising price of fuel and cereals.

Then, on Worker’s Day, it was Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who spoke about the need to have a social pact that would ultimately be elevated into a sustainable development pact.

It was probably not a coincidence that Mr Dalli brought the subject up during a discussion organised by the General Workers Union, which was given most of the blame three years ago when efforts to reach a social pact collapsed after weeks of discussion.

It was late in 2004 that the government, the employers and the unions sat together in a bid to find an agreement on a social pact, and the talks dragged on into the first weeks of 2005 without success. Since then, although the subject has been brought up sporadically, there was no serious effort once again to set the ball rolling in search of an accord.

Now it seems that there are various currents pushing towards another go. Circumstances have changed since 2005 – back then, the international oil and cereal markets were not creating the many problems they are creating today – and therefore there seems to be more urgency in reaching an agreement.

One of the more important comments made by Mr Dalli at the GWU conference is that both the employer and the worker have to realise that they need one another to exist and to have a decent quality of life.

But, while everyone understands this concept, it is unfortunate that the interests pursued by the employers and the unions are so different that they keep the two sides well apart. It often happens when collective agreements are being discussed, so much so that unions sometimes resort to industrial action.

It happened also when the social pact was being discussed, and since the difference that existed could not be ironed out the government had to take the bull by the horns and carry on with its agenda without the social pact.

Now it is clear that it is imperative that such a social pact is reached as quickly as possible so that Malta would be able to face its future and safeguard its competitiveness in the best way possible.

The government, the employers and the unions – individually and collectively – have a responsibility towards the Maltese people. They should not procrastinate any further and should work hard to find a compromise that would be beneficial to the country.

It would be another sad day for Malta if a renewed attempt to reach a social pact would end in yet another stalemate. Although it must be admitted that it might be harder to reach an agreement today because the situation today is probably more difficult than it was three years ago, every effort should be made in order to first of all re-start the negotiations and, secondly, to come to terms.