The Finance Ministry denied that it had discriminated against the General Workers Union with regard to the recent amendment to the law concerning taxation on fringe benefits.

In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry said that the meeting between the ministry and the union in April last year was held before the announcement that there would be a revision of the fringe benefit tax on house loans for bank employees.

That time, the union had informed the ministry that it wanted to discuss proposals on share option schemes and childcare facilities for bank employees, and the ministry had asked the union to submit these proposals in writing for consideration.

Since then, the ministry said it had not received any proposals from the union.

Instead, when it became known that the ministry was about to conclude negotiations with the Malta Union of Bank Employees on share option schemes, it had asked for a meeting although no proposals had been submitted, the statement said.

The ministry expected more responsibility from the GWU and is not prepared to get caught in between two unions which should have the same aim, the statement said.