PN backtracks on taxing minimum wage earners

The general council convened on Friday evening to discuss and approve the electoral programme, themed  'Another leap in quality'. PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil and author of the manifesto described the125-point programme as another leap forward for the country. 

Among the main proposals in the PN electoral manifesto, is the turnaround on the decision taken in the December budget to tax persons earning the minimum wage. The PN manifesto clearly states that "minimum wage earners will not pay any income tax."

The PN general council was addressed by a number of party candidates and deputy leader Simon Busuttil. The council is expected to be addressed by secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi shortly.

Pointing out Labour leader Joseph Muscat's claims that he would resign Simon Busuttil accused Muscat of doing a Franceso Schettino, the Costa Concordia captain who abandoned ship when the Italian cruise liner slammed against rocks off the Italian coast and sank.

The PN deputy leader said the PN programme is "fresh, innovative and exiting," adding "this electoral programme could and should grant us victory in the 9 March election."

Following the 2013 Budget presented just over eight weeks ago, minimum-wage earners were set to pay income tax as of 2013, because the statutory bonus of €512 payable annually pushed them into the 15% tax band for those who earn over €8,501. This decision came under ferocious attack by the Opposition who pledged that it would reverse the decision to tax minimum wage earners.

Another highlight of the PN programme is the proposal to introduce a night energy tariff, applicable between 10pm and 6am with a tariff variation of between 7% and 26%.

The PN programme is also in tune with Labour and Alternattiva Demokratika over lowering the age of voters and candidates eligible to vote and contest  local councils to 16. The programme also endorses calls to allow Maltese persons living abroad to vote in Maltese embassies in EU countries.

Another proposal of note is that of granting an amnesty to building irregularities built before the foundation of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority in 1992, on the condition that no new development can be approved without initiating a new process and a "proportional" fine must be paid to the local council.  

A new PN government would also link stipends to the cost of living - every year the stipend would be adjusted pro rata according to the COLA increase.

On childcare centres the PN programme says that a new government would be allocating €5 million for a voucher system, by which all working parents - whether fulltime or part time - can use to cover the cost of sending their children to such centres.

Parents would also be allowed to apply for sick leave when their children fall ill, allowing them to achieve a more manageable work/life balance. The proposal would not grant parents more sick leave days, but parents would be able to use the current amount of days allowed by law to tend to their children.

The programme also includes proposals to remove excise duty on all properties inherited or passed on as donations from parents to children, pensioners who receive a foreign pension will start receiving it fully and every new born child will receive a 1,000 euro as a Child's Pension Account.