[WATCH] NGO coalition demands 3.5% minimum wage increase

The minimum wage should increase by 3.5% for three consecutive years – to between €11,000 and €12,000 annually – in addition to the cost of living adjustment, according to a number of organisations who have come together to launch the Campaign for a Decent Minimum Wage.

The campaign was launched on Saturday by Auditus Foundation, Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar, Caritas, Forum Bormliz, Integra Foundation, Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, Malta Humanist Association, Malta Microfinance, Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl, Millennium Chapel, Moviment Graffiti, Paulo Freire Institute, Peace Lab, The Critical Institute, Third World Group and Zminijietna - Voice of the Left.

The organisations said raising the minimum wage was an act of social justice which would lead to a fairer distribution of wealth. The minimum wage is currently set at €4.20 per hour, from which national insurance is then deducted.

Charles Miceli, of Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar, said that the current minimum wage was not enough to allow the families of the lowest-paid workers to meet their basic needs.

“This increase could be spread over three years while a regular review should be made mandatory to ensure that it meets the amount required for a dignified living,” he said.

Miceli said it was the role and responsibility of the government to provide a decent minimum wage, and it should not wait for social partners to demand this increase.

When asked by MaltaToday if the campaign had approached the General Workers’ Union and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin to get them to join the campaign, he said that both unions did not want to commit themselves and that they seemed to be focusing on the concept of a living wage.

“We cannot wait for social partners to take a stand, and we decided it was time to launch this campaign,” Miceli said.

“The unions are focusing on the living wage, but I don’t see how when the concept has not even been defined yet.”

Caritas’ Leonid McKay said that the organisation had been very careful in the choice of products and services it included in the shopping basket used to calculate cost of living.

“Nevertheless, the minimum wage still was not enough to provide a decent living to low-income families,” he said. “Raising the minimum wage would also generate many more advantages, as more families would have greater spending power to inject into the economy.”

Erica Schembri, of Moviment Graffiti, said that some individuals were also supporting the campaign.

She said that the campaign planned a series of upcoming activities, discussions and meetings to keep the public informed of its efforts.

In a message on twitter, opposition leader Simon Busuttil backed the NGOs’ proposal and the campaign to raise the minimum wage.

“I believe that this NGO proposal for an increase in the minimum wage is reasonable and ought to be supported,” he wrote.

The Democratic Party (PD) called for a serious study into possibility of revising the national minimum wage, and for any changes that can guarantee a fair minimum wage to be implemented as soon as possible.

In a statement, the PD said it supported the efforts of a network of civil society organisations and the General Workers’ Union for pushing for a discussion on the living wage.

Wealth generated in the country should be distributed equally and fairly to give everyone the possibility of leading a dignified life, the party said.