The Nationalist Party has expressed satisfaction that the collective agreement for the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) has finally been signed, but noted that this came “three years late.”

“It is regrettable that MCAST students and staff, including lecturers, had to endure so much hardship to arrive at a point we should have reached three years ago,” the PN said in a statement after the signing on Monday.

It said that today’s agreement means that workers are finally receiving what they were rightfully due three years earlier. Neither the students nor the staff of the College should have been subjected to three years of unnecessary uncertainty, the party said.

“While the Government is now boasting about the signing of this agreement, it has no one but itself to blame for the three-year delay that saw students bear the consequences. This is because the Government failed to reach a timely solution through serious dialogue with workers' representatives,” the PN said.

“In the end, it was forced to accept nearly all of the proposals it had rejected for three whole years, proving that the suffering and frustration endured by those affected was all for nothing,” the party added.

It said that while MCAST can now look ahead, “this does not undo the damage caused by the loss of three years of discouragement, which impacted students, lecturers, and all grades involved in this crisis.”

The PN said that throughout this period, it had maintained constant contact with students and their representatives, including the MCAST Students’ Council, as well as with lecturers and MUT.

The party called on the Government and MCAST to ensure that the affected students are provided with the support and opportunities needed to recover what they lost in recent years.

“At the same time, we hope that this episode, which has tarnished MCAST’s reputation, is never repeated,” the PN said.

The statement was signed by PN MPs Justin Schembri, Ivan Castillo, and Bernice Bonello.