Government reaches out to MEA over MCESD protest

The Malta Employers Association (MEA) announced that it was suspending its participation from all structures of social dialogue in which the Government was involved over GRTU director-general Vince Farrugia’s nomination to the European Economic and Social Committee – a forum of civil society groups that consult with the EU at all levels – despite the fact that the GRTU was not an employers’ organisation as prescribed by EESC rules.

MEA president Pierre Fava and director-general Joe Farrugia had accused the government of succumbing to the GRTU’s arm-twisting tactics and accepting Farrugia’s nomination to the post. In protest the MEA has withdrawn from the MCESD and the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee (MEUSAC).

On his part, GRTU director-general Vince Farrugia has brushed off accusations by the Malta Employers Association that his nomination to the EESC is ‘illegal’.

Farrugia said MEA’s director Joseph Farrugia was only showing his “petty jealousies” at not being appointed to the EESC, and that the MEA was “bonkers” to have withdrawn from the MCESD in protest.

In a statement today, the finance ministry said the government “will try to find a solution to the a dispute in any particular sector, where possible… government sees the MEA’s voice in MCESD to be in the national interest.”

Government’s choice of Stefano Mallia and Farrugia, whose GRTU has held the employers’ seat on the EESC since before Malta’s accession to EU in 2004, has angered the MEA which has now announced its withdrawal from the MCESD.

The government nominates three representatives to the EESC’s three section committees, by asking the MCESD to submit two names for each section: four from employers’ organisations, four for trade unions, and two persons representing civil society. The government then chooses five people from these nominations – two members on each of the employers’ and employees’ sections, and one on civil society.

The government has stated that employers’ organisations on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development had failed to agree on submitting one list of nominees for appointment to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

One of these lists proposed Stefano Mallia from the Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence Mizzi from the Malta Employers Association; the other list proposed GRTU director-general Vince Farrugia.

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party said that representation on the European Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC), the EU's consultative body on civil society, should be elected in a democratic manner.

Michael Briguglio, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, said: "It seems that two representatives in the European Economic and Social Committee, one representing employers and one representing civil society, have been appointed directly by Government. Irrespective of whom the representatives are, AD totally disagrees with this method and believes that all such representative should be elected from the respective members in each sector (Employers, Workers, Civil Society)."

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD Spokesperson on EU and International affairs, stated: "In this day and age active participation by civil society implies a more open attitude by the government, that must release its control on issues which do not fall under the government's direct responsibility. Hand picking by government is unacceptable."