AD’s electoral manifesto to prioritise social justice

If elected in parliament, Alternattiva Demokratika would prioritise social justice. Addressing a press conference, AD chairperson Michael Briguglio criticised the socially regressive policies in the budget.

"The proposed budgetary decreases in income tax might lead to serious problems in Malta's welfare system in the years to come. Unless the economy grows at a rate that goes beyond recent trends, we will subsequently be likely to have to pay up for this through a reduction of public services, more borrowing or compensating tax elsewhere," Briguglio said.

He said that those working in teaching, middle-management, clerical, industrial and other types of employment have been left out by government in the proposed tax cuts.

"Besides, the reduction in the feed-in tariff rate, despite the extension of the scheme in terms of a number of years will probably act as a disincentive to low- to mid-income earners who would have been interested in investing in solar energy."

Briguglio added that government's regressive stance was also confirmed by the tax imposed on the single computation minimum wage.

"The otherwise positive initiatives in the Budget only partly compensate for such inequalities," he added.

"On the other hand, AD is proposing an increase in minimum wage and decent pensions, progressive and sustainable fiscal policy, and an updated cost of living adjustment mechanism."

AD's spokesman on social policy Angele Deguara said that the budget was disappointing with regards to addressing social inequalities in society.

"The budget is geared more towards obtaining votes from those at the higher end of the earning spectrum rather than to address social injustices.  As revealed by recent statistics, in Malta there are over 63,000 people living on an income of less than 6,500 euros with over 15% of the population falling below the poverty line and 22% of the population experiencing social exclusion," she said.

Deguara added that government should have given more priority to address these social inequalities rather than seeking to enhance them. She said that social policy needed to address the plight of vulnerable groups such as children, pensioners, single parents and persons with disability.

"We have been urging the Government to take the necessary steps to improve the life of such groups for a long time.  For example, persons with disability receive a pension which stands at 55% of the minimum wage; pension reform does not address the issue of income inequalities and penalizes those who are constrained to interrupt their career due to family responsibilities or other reasons beyond their control.

"We have also been calling on the Government to invest more in gender equality especially by encouraging more women to enter the labour market through family-friendly incentives and for men to be encouraged to participate more actively in family life".