To reach higher levels of efficient, accountable and transparent governance, the government must have a clear and coherent social policy which does not hide the realities of modern living, the General Workers’ Union said in a statement yesterday.
The GWU’s statement was made during a seminar at the Workers Memorial Building yesterday, when it made its proposals to political parties on what it expected from the various electoral manifestos.
The GWU said it believed there were two ways in which the government could consult with social partners, the first of which was the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. The GWU said it believed the MCESD was an important mechanism in the running of the country’s affairs. However, it said that practices should be changed and modernised. The union said that the MCESD was consultative in nature and not executive, which it believed needed to change. It also asked how the government could take a seat on the council. “If the government wants the MCESD’s advice on matters, how can it sit on the same council to give advice?” asked the union.
The government, said the union, should be there to decide the best way forward on behalf of the people, after hearing the thoughts and opinions of the MCESD.
The GWU said that whoever is in government has a big responsibility towards the rest of the country and therefore cannot take quick, capricious decisions that could have a detrimental effect on the public. The union also said that the government must bear in mind that the resources of the country do not belong to the administration, or any other individual for that matter, and must therefore think in a holistic manner.
The GWU said that all parties should only make electoral proposals that are practical and which they intend to see through to fruition. The union also made various submissions on specific sectors which it believes need attention. The first of these was the fight against corruption. The union said that Maltese people want open discussion about corruption, and that political parties should always distance themselves from those tainted by corruption.
The GWU also said that it would like to see changes in the way regulators go about their business, in an effort to increase accountability and transparency. Speaking about the economy, the union said that the Maltese and Gozitan people had to make a lot of sacrifices over the past five years, but it now seemed that things were looking up and that everyone could look to the future with peace of mind. However, it said that it hopes that all that has been promised to the public is sustainable and can be translated into wealth across the board.
The union also went into the problem of unemployment in Gozo and called for discussions on the subject. It also said that another area that needed improvement was the participation of women in the world of work, and the much needed set-up of nurseries and childcare centres. Illegal employment, property prices, ICT, public holidays, education, science and technology, entrepreneurship, the euro changeover, poverty, tourism, the environment, health, the elderly youth and disabled were also mentioned as areas in need of attention.
The GWU also talked about the future of Malta Shipyards, and said that it was still a viable enterprise if run responsibly on commercial lines. The union said it was ready to sit around the discussion table with the government to find a solution to the problems afflicting the yards. Acting opposition leader Charles Mangion, PN MP Clyde Puli and Azzjoni Nazzjonali leader Josie Muscat attended the seminar and gave their feedback to the union’s proposals.