Employers Association attending MCESD under protest at Bencini appointment

MEA protests lack of consultation over appointment of former MUT, Forum president John Bencini to MCESD chairman.

John Bencini - he presides over the MCESD's first meeting today.
John Bencini - he presides over the MCESD's first meeting today.

The Malta Employers' Association will attend today's MCESD meeting, the first since the recent appointment of John Bencini, in protest at the appointment of the former union leader.

The MEA said it was "evident" that the manner in which the appointment was decided was not in conformity with Article 4 of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development Act which clearly states that the appointment of the chairperson shall occur only after consultation with the member organisations within MCESD.  "The social partners were informed about the decision, but they were certainly not consulted," the MEA said.

The GRTU, on the other hand, said it regretted that its proposal for a two-year rotation for the presidency of the MCESD between employers, unions and civil society was not accepted.

The MEA said it expected Bencini to respect the integrity of the post. "We acknowledge that government had a prerogative to decide on the person to occupy the post once consultation takes place, but a better effort should have been made to select a person who has the backing of all social partners.

"We have absolutely no objection to having an MCESD chairperson who hails from the workers' camp, or even from civil society. It's not the person's background that's important for the post, but their qualifications and credentials as a person who can facilitate constructive social dialogue, and who enjoys the respect and trust of all the social partners.

"It is difficult, and even unfair, to expect a person to get the social partners to reach consensus or to inspire a convergence of ideas when that person has been imposed on the member organisations." 

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Nahseb li r-raguni principali u dawn it-talin ovvjament qed jibzu jghiduha hi li s-sur John Bencini m'ghadux ma gonzipn. Kif fil-fatt m'ghadhomx eluf kbar ta' Maltin. Il-pillola hi morra wisq ghal-dawn it-talin.
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"EMPLOYERS WITHOUT WORKERS ARE NOTHING" ..... and with such employers where would workers be without representation? MR. Bencini has an impeccable track record with excellent credentials , good negotiating skills AND MOST DEFINITELY will respect the integrity of the post without the MEA telling him to do so!
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Sur Farrugia tal MEA. Kienu ikkonsultati it-teachers ta' fejn GonziPN appuntak f'kariga importanti. Jew inti tista tkun appuntat u haddiehor le.
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And so.... the boycotts start. Even with a 35,000 majority, these people want to run the county - they think they own it. No wonder the PL's campaign slogan was 'Malta taghna lkoll' - because we needed to take it back. Hold firm JM and Mr Bencini - you are doing nothing wrong. Especially when compared to what the PN did in the last 25 years.
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These people should ask Dr Joseph Muscat's predecessor vis. Dr Lawrence Gonzi what meaning his dictionary gives to the word "CONSULTATION".
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Awguri, Mr.John Bencini
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Mela nsew tal-MEA meta l-Gonzipn baghat lill Censu Brussel minflok wiehed minnhom kemm laqghu kollox ghax Censu baqa hemm u ghadu hemm sal llum.
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These persons want to be always in charge. They never questioned the conflict of interest of other persons within MCESD in the recent past and up to today. Some of them were given other roles within the govt administration and wanted us to pretend that they were neutral. The previous govt was in effect conditioning them. Bencini has resigned from all other posts and his reputation and integrity is unquestionable.