Valletta – The General Workers’ Union (GWU) has officially declared an industrial dispute with HSBC Bank Malta plc, citing excessive delays in convening a meeting to discuss a financial compensation package for employees in recognition of their past service.
The dispute was declared by the GWU’s Professionals, Finance and Services Section, in accordance with Clause 9 of the 2024–2026 Collective Agreement between HSBC Malta and the union.
The union expressed concern over the prolonged delay in receiving a draft document outlining the proposed terms of the compensation package. Riccarda Darmanin, Secretary of the Section, stated:
“The exclusion of the GWU from this process is completely unacceptable and must be rectified without further delay. The ongoing uncertainty and anxiety among employees, worsened by increasing speculation, cannot be tolerated. If this exclusion continues, we will take all necessary measures to prevent the implementation of any agreement reached without our involvement and consent.”
Despite the formal declaration of an industrial dispute, the GWU reaffirmed its commitment to participate in any constructive meetings and urged HSBC Malta to initiate timely, transparent, and substantive dialogue to resolve the issue in the best interests of all parties involved.
A copy of the dispute declaration has been submitted to the Director General of the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) for registration and progress monitoring.
Baġit b’impenn akbar għall-familji u ġenerazzjonijiet future
Il-General Workers’ Union (GWU) laqgħet il-baġit li għadu kif tħabbar u esprimiet sodisfazzjon li dan hu ffokat fuq tkabbir ekonomiku għal futur aktar sod għall-familji tagħna. Il-General Workers’ Union iddeskriviet dan il-baġit bħala wieħed ekonomikament u soċjalment sostenibbli.
Is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-GWU Josef Bugeja stqarr li: “Dan il-baġit fih nisġa ta’ proposti li permezz tat-tkabbir ekonomiku f’pajjiżna bl-inqas rata ta’ qgħad, qed naraw tisħiħ fil-kwalità tal-ħajja taċ-ċittadini f’pajjiżna. Ġid akbar għall-familji, għall-pensjonanti, għaż-żgħażagħ, għas-sidien tal-kumpaniji u għall-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri.”
Fost il-miżuri proposti mill-GWU u inkorporati fil-baġit hemm sussidji kontinwi fuq il-prezzijiet tal-enerġija, il-fjuwil u ċ-ċereali, benefiċċji għar-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni diġitali u l-Intelliġenza Artifiċjali; żidiet fil-pensjonijiet kontributorji u non-kontributorji u l-benefiċċji soċjali, investiment fin-negozji u intrapriżi u inizjattivi li se jkunu qed ikomplu jagħtu spinta fid-dħul lill-familji filwaqt li jipprovdu aktar appoġġ lil dawk vulnerabbli.
“Dan il-baġit qed joffri aktar sostenn lill-familji billi jiffoka fuq tnaqqis qawwi fit-taxxa għall-ġenituri bit-tfal, piż li se jonqos b’€160 miljun, żieda fiċ-Childrens’ Allowance, in work benefit u żieda fil-bonus għat-twelid fost oħrajn.”
Bugeja żied jgħid li “huwa ta’ pjaċir għalina li naraw investiment massiċċ fil-familja, pensjonanti, ħaddiema u jindirizza l-isfida tad-demografija.”
Il-GWU laqgħet il-mekkaniżmu ġdid li qed idaħħal il-Gvern, fejn permezz tal-iskema Micro Invest se jkun qed jagħti għajnuna lis-settur privat biex itejjeb il-pagi tal-ħaddiema. Minbarra li jwassal għal titjieb fil-pagi se jkun ukoll ta’ sostenn biex il-ħaddiema permezz tal-appoġġ li se jingħataw ikomplu jitħarrġu u jtejbu l-kapaċitajiet tagħhom mal-istess post tax-xogħol.
Ma’ dan kollu trid tqis li minkejja l-għajnuniet u inċentivi, ir-rata tad-defiċit se tkompli nieżla filwaqt li l-ekonomija mistennija tikber. Dawn il-benefiċċji kollha qed ikunu sostnuti minn tkabbir ekonomiku mingħajr l-ebda żieda fit-taxxa.
“Permezz ta’ dan il-baġit u l-viżjoni tiegħu li tħares ’il quddiem, il-Gvern qed jindirizza lill-ħaddiema b’għajnuniet li jkomplu jsostnu lill-familji u lil dawk il-gruppi l-aktar vulnerabbli fis-soċjetà b’żieda sostanzjali fil-benefiċċji soċjali, filwaqt li jindirizza wkoll lis-settur privat u lil dawk l-intrapriżi li jagħżlu li jinvestu,” temm jgħid Josef Bugeja.
Din id-dikjarazzjoni tirrappreżenta r-reazzjoni inizjali mill-GWU. Tweġiba uffiċjali mill-Kunsill Nazzjonali se tinħareġ fil-jiem li ġejjin.
Budget Welcomed by GWU as a Strong Commitment to Families and Future Generations
Valletta – The General Workers’ Union (GWU) has welcomed the newly announced national budget, expressing satisfaction that it focuses on economic growth and long-term stability for Maltese families. The union described the budget as both economically and socially sustainable.
GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja stated:
“This budget is woven with proposals that, through economic growth and the lowest unemployment rate in the country, are strengthening the quality of life for our citizens. It brings greater prosperity to families, pensioners, youth, business owners, and future generations.”
Among the GWU’s proposals incorporated into the budget are continued subsidies on energy, fuel, and grain prices; incentives for research, digital innovation, and artificial intelligence; increases in contributory and non-contributory pensions and social benefits; investment in businesses and enterprises; and initiatives to boost household income while providing additional support to vulnerable groups.
Bugeja highlighted key measures supporting families, including:
A significant €160 million reduction in tax burdens for parents with children
Increases in the Children’s Allowance
Enhancements to the In-Work Benefit
A rise in the birth bonus
“We are pleased to see substantial investment in families, pensioners, and workers, while also addressing demographic challenges,” Bugeja added.
The GWU also welcomed a new government mechanism under the Micro Invest scheme, which will support the private sector in improving workers’ wages. This initiative is expected not only to raise salaries but also to help employees enhance their skills through workplace training.
Despite the range of incentives and support measures, the deficit rate is projected to continue declining, while the economy is expected to grow– achieved without any increase in taxes.
“Through this forward-looking budget, the government is addressing workers’ needs with support that strengthens families and vulnerable groups, while also encouraging private sector investment,” Bugeja concluded.
