An agreement has been reached with Unjoni Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UĦM) on a collective agreement for workers at Aġenzija Sapport, it was announced by the government late on Friday.

This news came after the union had suspended industrial action at the agency on Friday morning, pending further discussions with the Ministry for Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity.

The industrial action had been in place since Monday, as a result of what the union called a deadlock in talks over a new collective agreement, and warned that unless progress was made the matter would escalate further. 

The previous collective agreement had expired in 2016. As per the directives issued by the UĦM, care workers, social workers and occupational therapists had been instructed not to communicate with clients, not to compile reports, and not to attend meetings. The workers were also ordered not to attend any appointments with clients.

Late on Friday however, an agreement was reached on a final collective agreement which ironed out the issues that the UĦM had with the current situation.

As a result, the UĦM has halted the industrial action which had been ongoing for the past days.