Maltese workers, pensioners and traders are feeling trampled and thousands of families are constrained to ask to pay their electricity and water bills in instalments because they cannot cope with the expense, the For.U.M. Unions Maltin said.

The Forum, made up of a number of unions, said the electricity and water bills, which have now started reaching people’s homes, were clear proof of how right the Forum was to take part, with other unions, in the public manifestation held in Valletta to protest against the utility tariffs.

The bills situation was showing what standard of living Maltese workers are having to do with, especially those in the middle class and others living on the brink of poverty.

The Forum said many families and pensioners were having to deprive themselves of essential things just to keep up with the cost of the utility bills. It added workers were today asking those social partners who chose not to attend the protest, what their position was now that the hardships being caused were obvious.