Court condemns every prime minister since 1970

A court has condemned the failure of every Maltese prime minister since 1970 to ratify a cabinet decision which would have given former Malta Electricity Board employees’ pension rights similar to those enjoyed by government employees.  However, it dismissed the employees' request to implement the cabinet decision saying that it was time-barred. Cabinet took the decision in1969 and confirmed it in 1970. The MEB had issued a circular informing all employees of this change to their pensions. However, the law provided that such a cabinet decision had to be approved by the prime minister. But, to date, no prime minister had approved and ratified it according to law.  This, said the court, was worthy of condemnation and was inexplicable. Mr Justice Silvio Meli concluded that the cabinet's decision had given the employees an acquired right. However, the law also provided that no court case could be filed after the lapse of 30 years. In this case, the 30 years started to run from the cabinet decision of 1970.  The employees filed their action in February 2005, well over the 30 year time limit. The court therefore found the action to be time barred and dismissed the case.