GRTU, VRT stations demand higher test prices

The GRTU and VRT stations praised recent changes to VRT tests, but stressed the need for higher test prices to be charged.

The changes to VRT tests were made to ensure standardised VRT testing across EU states and safer, cleaner vehicles on the roads. The changes include, for example, that defects emerging from a VRT test will be categorised according to their severity and level of safety on the road.

The GRTU said that the changes made were important to ensure road safety, and that VRT stations themselves had prepared, and welcomed them.

“The government clearly knows that the GRTU has, for years, been asking for an increase in VRT test prices, so much so that the union had presented an independent study by consultants explaining why there is a need for an increase, and how it should be given.”

The GRTU noted that the VRT stations have had the same revenue from a test for 20 years, and that the price is the lowest in Europe. The union noted that operators had to see how to maintain their business while expenses constantly rise, while also providing increases to their employees.

The union noted that this strategy does not work in favour of security, stating that yet again the government expects higher standards from these stations while not appreciating that the time has come for prices to be revised, at least to incorporate the Cost of Living Adjustment. The GRTU said that this was precarious.

The GRTU asked for an urgent meeting with Transport Minister Ian Borg.