Malta's trade union groups in a rare joint statement have called for a meeting with the government to present a proposal for a new mechanism for the calculation of the COLA cost of living adjustment in exceptional circumstances. The Forum Unions Maltin, General Workers Union, Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and the UĦM Voice of the Workers said they had taken the initiative in view of the current unprecedented situation which would see the COLA rise to €10 in the forthcoming Budget. They said the COLA mechanism needed to be fair to workers and employers and changes were also needed to address anomalies which could cause problems in the future. The proposals, which the unions did not detail, would also safeguard the sustainability of jobs, the statement said. Employers' concerns Employers have over the past few weeks warned that a COLA increase of €10 per week could drive them out of business. The Employers' Association said cost-of-living adjustments should be capped at €6 weekly for the next five years, warning that more than half of companies will be impacted by this year’s expected increase. It suggested that a five-year maximum and minimum COLA adjustment should be...