Maltese General Workers' Union Will Not Call Strike On VAT

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

23 January 2003

The Maltese General Workers' Union has said that it will not be calling a general strike on value added tax (VAT) following the Malta Labour Party's announcement that the sales tax will stay if it is voted into power.

Labour and the GWU initially opposed the tax when it was introduced in 1994 by the Nationalist Party, and a general strike was called to protest against its introduction. However, following the Labour Party's U-turn on the subject, GWU secretary-general, Tony Zarb has announced that the union will support the continuation of the tax, but will push for a restructuring of the system if Labour are successful at the next election.

Speaking to the Malta Independent, Mr Zarb defended the union against Nationalist Party allegations that it is employing double standards, arguing that the circumstances were different in 1994, and that the Nationalist government had ignored the opinions of the people by introducing VAT.

He then outlined the GWU's obligations in this election, pledging to hold both parties to the pledges made during their election campaign:

'The union is duty bound to speak up if anything seems wrong, irrespective of the party in government at the time,' he explained.

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