The Bakers’ Cooperative yesterday put forward its proposals to the government so as to identify means

of cutting costs in a bid to keep the prices of Maltese bread stable.

Bakers producing Maltese bread were met with higher costs at the beginning of the year as subsidies were removed with effect from 1 January.

In comments to The Malta Independent yesterday, cooperative president Raymond Briffa explained that among the proposals which the government seemed interested in was that of setting up night meters at bakeries for the introduction of cheaper night tariffs for electricity.

“All efforts are being employed to identify less costly solutions,” Mr Briffa said. “Raising the price of Maltese bread is being considered as a last resort,” he added.

The two parties should be meeting again next week and the government is expected to put forward his proposals. The date of the meeting has not yet been set.

A spokesperson at the Finance Ministry confirmed that a meeting was held between the Bakers’ Cooperative and the Permanent Secretary within the ministry yesterday morning. It was described as a meeting of a technical nature and non-conclusive.