A group of unions has asked for a meeting with the government in order to discuss a new COLA mechanism for exceptional circumstances.

The Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is an annual increase in working financial conditions determined by the government every year, generally in the annual Budget.

While it has been quite low over the past years, this year owing to high inflation rates it is expected to hit around €10 – a record high.

In a joint statement, FORUM Unions Malta, the General Workers Union, the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and UHM Voice of the Workers said that they had asked for a meeting with the government in order to discuss their proposal.

The unions said that they are coming together as a united front to present a proposal which will allow the COLA mechanism to respond to circumstances like those being faced while also ensuring that justice for workers and for employers is done.

The proposal, they said, will also serve to address certain anomalies which, if nothing is done in the immediate, will create major problems in the coming years.

“This is why, with a sense of responsibility to our members but also to look towards the sustainability of jobs, we will be putting forward a proposal for the attention of the Finance Minister now that the discussions on the Budget are reaching their peak,” the unions said.

What their proposal entails was not specified in the joint statement.