Minister hints at plans for women to declare their income

Speaking during a business breakfast, Tonio Fenech came clean about a situation he faced when he discovered that his maid did not declare her income.

He used this case to appeal for more women to go out to work, but insisted that all should declare their income.

“Many women were working, but did not understand the importance and benefit of declaring their income, including income tax and social security,” he said.

Tonio Fenech explained that the maid hurt her back and had to stop working. “Now she had no support, because that was what happened when one did not declare his or her income.”

During the business breakfast, Tonio Fenech spoke about the utility tariffs and said that it was “unlikely” that tariffs would be reduced, since oil prices were not coming down.

However he said was in favour of 'locking' tariffs for next year as a way to ensure stability.

He stressed that the main emphasis of the Budget would be to sustain economic growth and reduce the deficit, currently running at 3.8%.

The deficit, he said, had to be reduced by 1% next year, through economic growth and by more efficient government spending rather than increasing burdens on taxpayers and businesses.