Government has agreed to work in tandem with the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, in a bid to find ways to achieve a five percent savings in its operating budget.

According to a statement released this afternoon, it was also agreed that the contentious Public Bodies Reform Bill won’t be tabled in the upcoming session of the House of Assembly.

According to a Cabinet spokeswoman, the legislation will be “deferred thereafter” — if the collaboration manages to achieve the five percent reduction.

She added: “However it should be noted that the required policy development work and drafting of the Bill will continue during this period.”

A tripartite group of Government negotiators, senior technical officers and BTUC representatives will be appointed, the spokeswoman said, with Gary Phillips, Martin Law and John Harvey representing Government.

“It is expected that the effort to identify the five percent budget reduction will precede formal negotiations, though it is accepted that negotiations may commence during the period if agreed by the parties,” the statement closed.