The decision taken by the government to postpone the removal of extra days’ leave in lieu of public holidays falling on a weekend gives the social partners one last chance to reach an agreement on a social pact.

During last Wednesday’s meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, it was agreed that the social partners, in particular the unions who have vehemently resisted the measure planned by the government, have another two weeks to come up with fresh proposals. If no agreement is concluded, then the government will go ahead with its plans.

It must be recalled that the government chose to suggest the amendment to the National and Public Holidays Act after the unions were against changes to the Employment and Industrial Relations Act. This had followed the failure of negotiations on a social pact just before the budget for 2005 was presented.

The government is insisting that, unless the social partners come to terms on a social pact, or as it is being called now, a national agreement, it will go ahead with its plans to remove the provision giving workers extra days’ leave when public or national holidays fall on a weekend.

What is hoped now is that the MCESD members, especially the unions, come up with suggestions that will lead to a

satisfactory conclusion for all.

Both the General Workers Union and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin have claimed credit for the decision taken last Wednesday.

The GWU thinks that it was the protest march it held in Valletta last Monday that forced the government to rethink the whole scenario. It believes that the show of support pushed the government into postponing the implementation of the measure mentioned earlier. GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said this was a victory for the workers.

It was, however, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin which called for another MCESD meeting when it seemed that there was no chance that a solution could be found. In the words of secretary-general Gejtu Vella, the government’s decision confirmed that social dialogue was the key to finding

amicable solutions to the problems being faced.

Now it is back to the drawing board. Another MCESD meeting is scheduled for Thursday and the unions know that, by then, they must have already come up with suggestions in a bid to break the deadlock. They must be the ones to put forward new ideas.

Strictly speaking, the employers have already expressed their satisfaction with the government’s proposal. Unless the unions come up with other solutions acceptable to all and in the national interest, the measure announced by the government – which the employers have strongly agreed with – will go through.

Whatever happens, the government will emerge stronger from this situation. If a social pact or national agreement is reached, its decision to allow more time for discussion will be seen as having been the right move in the prevailing

situation.

If, on the other hand, no such conclusion is reached, nobody can blame it for not having tried and for not giving the social partners the chance to agree terms. The government is often accused of not consulting those involved before implementing changes. This time around, nobody can point fingers at the government because it has given enough time – probably more than it should have – to the search for a solution.

The ball is now in the unions’ court. They have been given yet another chance to put forward proposals that can help the country become more productive and competitive.

Unless they do so, the government will have no other option than to go ahead with its strategy. Malta cannot afford to lose more time.