The relocation of the Valletta open air market from its temporary place in Freedom Square back to Merchants Street has been postponed till Monday, a statement issued by the Investments, Industry and IT Ministry said yesterday.

The move back to Merchants Street – following the completion of embellishment work – was supposed to take place today, but the government and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin agreed to postpone it till Monday.

The UHM argued that it needed more time to make the necessary arrangements for the new set-up in Merchants Street, and this could not be done yesterday because it was a public holiday.

The ministry said that although the relocation was announced within the stipulated time as agreed between the two sides on 18 May, and in spite of the fact that the union brought up the issue only one day before them relocation, the government agreed to postpone the move back to Merchants Street to Monday.