The Government has been dragging its feet for two years and has failed to reach a new collective agreement which is leading to stagnation in the University of Malta’s educational administration, the Nationalist Party said on Monday.

During a news conference held at the main entrance of the University, PN spokespersons Ivan Castillo, Justin Schembri, and Bernice Bonello said that this uncertainty caused by the lack of a new collective agreement has led to a situation of limbo for both the workers, including lecturers, and the students.

The spokespersons said that the government is not doing what is expected of it, which is to continue the necessary talks and finalise an agreement. They continued that ultimately, it is the students who are suffering due to the government’s stubbornness, and that students are facing great uncertainty as they are not sure if exams will be held this month or if they will be postponed.

The PN added that this stagnation in talks has led to directives and industrial actions being used to workers by unions in order for them to get what they have been asking for during recent years. UĦM Voice of the Workers was one such union which ordered these directives for the administrative, technical, and industrial workers of the University of Malta after their demands were “given no priority.”

The Opposition concluded that a serious government is expected to identify the needs of the workers and do everything at the discussion table to reach a peaceful compromise, and “not run away from the discussion.”