SME Chamber President meets MDB Officials
22 April 2024
Malta Chamber of SMEs President Mr Paul Abela met MDB Chairman Leo Brincat and CEO...
Social partners and the opposition voice their support to GRTU’s electricity proposal
05 October 2015
Social Partners in agreement
During a consultation meeting held with the opposition on the Budget proposals, the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta Employers Association and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin were in agreement that Government should address the issue of electricity costs in this Budget. This means that all the major social partners, with the only exception of the GWU, believe that concrete measures must be taken to address the current situation.
Opposition in agreement
The opposition also agreed with GRTU’s position that the 25% reduction was promised in a time different from the conditions we are living in today and therefore the reduction in the international prices of oil, the efficiencies of the BWSC plant and the cheap electricity rates of the interconnector should be regarded separately.
Dr Simon Busuttil said that the reduction requested by the GRTU is not only justified but obvious and apparent when one considers the figures that are publicly available. Dr Busuttil insisted that unfortunately with regards to other considerations one can only ask questions since the agreements are not public and there is lack of transparency.
GRTU reiterates its call for 30% reduction in electricity tariffs
GRTU President Paul Abela said that the GRTU had invited the Government to carry out its own technical assessment in order to see what reductions could be passed on to SMEs. He said that in calling for a 30% reduction the GRTU was being conservative and GRTU will be escalating its efforts in the coming days to see prices reduced.
Paul Abela said that he would have expected the Government to not simply be a guarantor to Electro Gas but partner up with the company. This is what happens in the private sector where the guarantor believes in the venture he is guaranteeing for.
