Updated | GWU wants six-monthly COLA

The General Workers Union (GWU) will present 64 electoral proposals to Malta's political parties, amongst which is their wish to see the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) allowance reviewed every six months, rather than annually.

The GWU's position is at loggerheads with the prevailing sentiment inside the European Commission, which has told the Maltese government it should desist from tagging the COLA increase to inflationary movements, and instead award the mandatory salary increase only when there are productivity gains.

Malta's COLA binds private employers to effect the necessary inflationary increases to salaries, guaranteeing a standard wage increase and also keeping industrial peace.

The government, on its part, has already declared with will not be changing the current COLA mechanism.

GWU secretary-general Tony Zarb however said the union wants to see a COLA that is calculated on basket of goods that truly reflects inflationary movements in prices, and a six-monthly adjustment. "The union is not happy with the way COLA is being worked out and we maintain that it can be improved, apart from the need to have an annual household budgetary survey to assist in its computation."

The 64-proposal booklet is divided into different sections, each tackling the economy, industry, the civil service, the social dimension, and the EU.

One of the principle points is precarious work and among others, the union proposes to that companies should not be allowed to have more than 10% of its workers employed on a definite contract. It adds that employers found guilty of employing precarious workers should be disqualified from being adjudicated government contracts.

The GWU also floated the idea to have more childcare centres in Valletta and added that parents who make use of such centres should either enjoy a reduction in their income tax or receive a tax credit.

Among its proposals, the union stresses the need to create green jobs and tabled the idea to create a green manufacturing park "in order to attract local and foreign investment."
The GWU added that this would turn Malta into a base for research, development and manufacture of green technologies.

On pensions, the union said that government should ensure that pensions should not be lower than 60% of the average national income. The GWU also backs an increase in the minimum wage to ensure "a decent living to workers and reduce poverty in the country."

The union also addressed the issue of migrants and said that a unit should be created within ETC which should be responsible to provide employment for migrants.
The GWU added that employing migrants who are not registered with the corporation should become illegal.
It also reiterates its call for proper trade union rights for members of the police force, the AFM and the Civil Protection Department.

The proposals also include a suggestion to impose a tax on the third property.

"We feel this is an adequate time to tell parties our proposals, well before the election, because we want them to have ample time to evaluate the proposals," Zarb said of the booklet, which was drafted in consultation with the union's sections.
Other proposals treat reform inside the MCESD, migrant labour, utilities and pensions.

"We will support any government's implementation of our proposals," Zarb said. "We won't allow any party to take workers or pensions for a ride this time around."