Constituted bodies have replied to government proposals on a possible expansion of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

In August, through parliamentary secretary Chris Said, the government suggested an expansion of the council to include the Forum Unions Maltin and the Gozo Business Chamber. It said this can either be done through the creation of additional seats for the two organisations, or else with the Chamber of Commerce and the General Workers Union giving up one of their two seats.

Forum have been clamouring for a place on the MCESD ever since the Malta Union of Teachers moved out of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and teamed up with Forum. Their claim that they represent between 11,000 and 12,000 workers and that they therefore should have a rightful place on the MCESD has been supported only by the GWU.

The rest of the constituted bodies have shown no similar backing, although it is only the UHM that publicly said that the government seems to want to give a voice to “those who make most noise”, while ignoring other organisations who have also shown an interest in being part of the MCESD.

The government is now analysing the counter-proposals submitted by the constituted bodies and will be meeting them one by one before the council, as a whole, discusses the issue.

One important prerequisite that has been set is that a consensus needs to be found before any changes are made. Both the government in its original letter and the constituted bodies that have responded have made this clear. But whether a consensus can be reached when the views are so opposing remains to be seen.

It must be remembered that, a few years back, the idea of a social pact was scuttled just because one member of the MCESD, the GWU, did not accept it. And finding a common way forward this time round also seems to be a difficult target to reach.

Still, one must look beyond numbers. It is arguable whether Forum and the GBA should have a place on the MCESD. Those in favour believe that it would give the MCESD a wider experience and a better balance; those against question what difference will the two new additions make and whether the MCESD would ever be able to come to a conclusion with so many different opinions on board.

But, apart from the numbers issue, there are other matters that need to be looked into.

Over the past months, the role of the MCESD has been put under the spotlight. Is it just a talking shop, as one minister put it? Does it still have a function today? Should its terms of reference be changed? Is the government using the MCESD as a shield when its dialogue credentials are questioned? Are decisions really taken there?

The way forward for the MCESD is not only to see whether it should have more members or leave things as they are. It should not only be a question of seats.

It should be a serious examination of its participation in the social and economic development since it was set up, and finding ways to become more relevant in today’s society. It should be a serious analysis of its role and whether this needs to be changed to become more in line with what is happening on the outside.

Otherwise, there is a risk that the MCESD will lose all its significance, whether it has more members or not.