Forum Unions Maltin expressed disappointment as it said the government had failed to live up to its word that there was to be a salary adjustment for public sector and public service officers.

“As had happened last year, it is clear that the government has gone back on its word and betrayed the workers,” said the Forum.

It continued by saying that “in the absence of this mechanism”, thousands of workers will not only not benefit from this budget, but lose out.

“With this result these workers will be poorer, with much less spending power than this year”.

The Forum described this as a “big blow for all workers” especially given the unbridled cost of living, adding that this is a direct result of another budget where “the Government has again failed to introduce concrete measures to curb the cost of living.”