Dr Karl Chircop, Labour Party spokesman on social protection, said the board of appeal of the National Employment Authority had not met since 15 May because its term of office had expired and a new board has not been appointed.

One of the board’s functions was to consider the cases of workers who received unemployment benefit and who for some reason may have the benefit withdrawn. Their only alternative is to refer to this board, which hears their case and if it finds in their favour, restores them to the first part of the unemployment register.

Dr Chircop said many of these workers were married and while their unemployment benefit was withheld, they received meagre social assistance. So it was not socially just that the board had not met for over two months. With cases usually taking three months to be heard, the delay meant there were workers who had been waiting for a hearing for more than five months.