The Labour Party said any decisions the government took about the surcharge on water and electricity should be based on Malta’s social realities, and the General Workers’ Union urged the government to consult the social partners before deciding.

The MLP said the water and power tariffs and the surcharge should not be simply an accounting exercise. Oil price rises did not affect only the government’s finances so any measures taken with the aim only of balancing the government’s books would in these circumstances be short-sighted and ignoring the wider needs of society.

It was for this reason, the MLP said, that it was appealing to the government to base its decisions about the surcharge and the tariffs on the country’s social realities, especially of those who could afford the least, and of those moving ahead in society.

Apart from this they had to be fully aware of economic considerations, especially the impact on business, and particularly on small concerns. The effects were not only those resulting in costs for business, but also those affecting people’s purchasing power.

Urging the government to consult its social partners, the GWU said it was making its appeal in the light of media reports of a planned surcharge increase ranging from 50 to 75 per cent, and that water and electricity tariffs would be reviewed as well.

At the last meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, the GWU said, the government had not shown itself averse to its call for a discussion with the social partners before any increases were announced. Not meeting the social partners would mean the government running away from social dialogue.

Any increase would add to the social burdens on people who were already carrying more than they should, the GWU said. It would also affect industry, and hurt competitiveness.