Once in government, the Malta Labour Party will set up a task force to analyse the burdens of taxes on local industry and to draw up measures to reduce the burden, MLP leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

This will be done within six months of the election.

The aim of the task force will be to come up with solutions to reduce the tax burden on industry and a Labour government would commit itself to helping the industry become more competitive and to boost exports.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the General Workers’ Union, led by secretary general Tony Zarb, Dr Sant said the MLP would set up a high level committee, chaired by the Prime Minister and the minister responsible for industry, that meets monthly with industry to discuss the problems facing the sector.

Dr Sant said that the time for organisations like Malta Enterprise which took up a lot of time, money and energy was gone.

He said a new Labour government would retain the existent structure but rationalise and strengthen it to meet today’s needs. It would lay more emphasis on the promotion on new investment and assistance to industries which operate in Malta.

GWU secretary general Tony Zarb said industry was a main sector of the Maltese economy and that was why he had asked for more meetings with the MLP to discuss the party’s action plan for industry.

He said the GWU believes there should be more emphasis on research and development and agreed that the burden of the surcharge on electricity should be addressed.

He reiterated the union’s proposal for body responsible for the creation of employment opportunities which would be composed of representatives of the government, the opposition, trade unions and employers.