Malta Public Transport confirmed in a statement today that discussions are still under way with the General Workers' Union on the new drivers' duties and rosters that were planned to come into force on Sunday 13 September.

Although no service disruptions are anticipated, the new duties will not come into force and services will continue with the current routes and schedules until further notice.

The new routes will however have to wait.

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said that after months of anticipation and boasts by Minister Joe Mizzi, the new routes will not come into force on Sunday.

Minister Mizzi's reform, PN spokesperson Marthese Portelli said, has not come to be and people are still suffering in traffic or not being given a good service by the public transport company.

Joe Mizzi's incompetence in the sector is an everyday occurrence, the PN said.

The General Workers Union this week warned Malta Public Transport that it will be ordering bus drivers not to work the new hours and routes they were asked to follow as from next Sunday.

In a statement, it said the new hours and routes were not those discussed and agreed between the two sides. Unless these reflected the discussions which took place in the past four months, it would not exclude taking suitable industrial action to protect the interests of its members.

In reply, Malta Public Transport explained that the new duties that were issued for the 13 September form an integral part in the improvements planned for the public transport service, including the first phase of the changes in the network planned for this weekend by Government. 

The two sides are still in discussions and the introduction of the new routes will now be postponed.