UHM proposes social pact

In March 2004, the Union of United Workers (UHM), Malta's second-largest trade union, proposed a 'social pact'. The aim is to bring the social partners together around a common set of policies and actions seen as necessary to promote sustainable economic and social growth. All social partner organisations and political parties have been invited by UHM to discuss the document. Several social partner organisations have recently listed a number of measures which in their view have to be taken to help the Maltese economy to overcome its current economic problems (MT0403101N (//www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories /eurwork/articles/spotlight-on-employment-issues)). The employers’ associations have, by and large, voiced their concern about increasing taxation, which tends to increase the operating cost of labour. They have therefore urged the government to control labour costs in order to boost the competitiveness of national industry.peer-reviewe