The Communist Party of Malta supports the minimum income standard

The Communist Party of Malta supports the call by the United Left Bloc in the European Parliament for a decent minimum income standard to combat rising poverty across Europe. In Malta the introduction of a minimum income by law was introduced way back in the 1970s by a Labour Administration. This labour legislation introduced for the first time social justice at the workplace.

“It is offensive that the Government has, in Budget 2011, tied an increase in minimum wage with job training, when training is supposed to be a worker’s right. This is nothing but discrimination to workers with low income and this will increase social exclusion and class inequalities”.

“The proposed Framework Directive for a minimum income standard is mathematically formulated based on at least 60% of the median income in each European country. This measure will be of a benefit to workers on a minimum wage to enjoy a decent life. This will also be an effective tool to fight social exclusion, poverty and unemployment”.

The concept of a minimum income standard is on the same basis of that of the living wage but differs in methodology as the living wage is based on the whims of the employers and the type of Government, while the minimum income standard is directly linked with the minimum wage income and is mandatory by law.

"Euro statistic figures show that even after social reforms, some 85 million people will remain at risk of poverty in the EU. Neo liberal policies, such as cuts in social expenditure and jobs, austerity measures, and low wages are putting families at risk of poverty”.

The Communist Party of Malta supports the call from the streets by the workers across Europe, mainly in Greece, Spain and France who are demanding a change in policy to tackle poverty and social exclusion.

We urge the Maltese Members of European Parliament to support this European framework directive for the introduction of a minimum income standard based on a 60% on the median income.

Anti-Social Budget

The Communist Party of Malta states that the Budget 2011 is an anti-social budget, where the Government is denying the working class the right for a decent wage to those workers with a minimum wage. It is offensive that the Government has tied an increase in minimum wage with job training, when training is supposed to be a worker’s right. While high-wage earners are giving job training without any conditions. This is nothing but discrimination to workers with low income and this will increase social exclusion and class inequalities.

The Communist Party of Malta condemns the fact that the Government has not used the same measures with regards middle and upper class families who choose to send their children to private schools.

"The campaign against exploitation at work must be restrained by new work legislations for secure jobs and decent wages. The measure announced by the Government seems to be attractive, although we fear that this will not be effective, if the Government will continue to apply the same method used in granted contracts on the least minimum bid. The government should ensure that workers are employed on 40 hours week and not on precarious jobs.

The working class is still carrying the burden of the austerity measures announced in previous budgets and of today, where the cost of living has not been subdued. The prices of energy tariffs and gas which are classified as basic commodities are still high in prices to the detriment of the working class.

The Communist Party of Malta deems this Budget as ‘contempt’ towards the working class where each day they are experiencing a decline in their quality of life. We note that this Government has no interest for the working class.

PR Budget 1911

The Communist Party of Malta urges the Government that the Budget 2011 should address the problem of poverty and social inequality facing every day the Maltese families. The Gonzi Administration is responsible for introducing slowly heavy austerity measures on the Maltese population during these last few years.

“We believe that the problem of the ‘national deficit’ should no longer be carried by the working and middle class, but a fiscal policy should be applied to the upper classes, tax evaders and the financial sector.”

The Communist Party of Malta believes that the real factors for the increase in social inequality are related mainly to the problem of high cost price and loan rates on property prices bought by young couples, the reduction in social benefits and state subsidies, as well as the reduction in value of wages and pensions. Government needs to address these aspects by implementing adequate social policies and measures to improve the standard of living.

The Government should also address the problem of precarious employment as soon as possible, as this problem is undermining the standard of living which the working people had made sacrifices and struggled for during the past years. We appeal that the income tax should not be reduced as others quarters are demanding, but on the contrary we believe that the rate of 35% should rise to 40% in order to have sustainability of the 'welfare state’, which until now was the main factor leading to the improved standard of living.

The Communist Party of Malta calls on the Government to change its anti-social direction and together with the Trade Unions implement a package of social measures to give a new breath to the Maltese families. Electricity and water rates should not be used to offset this Government’s erroneous neo liberal policies.

The Communist Party of Malta, on the ‘Working Time Directive’

The Communist Party of Malta criticises the ‘Working Time Directive’ as being vague and very open to various interpretations.

The Communist Party of Malta believes that the way the directive was formulated, is a direct threat to increase the 40 hour week to a 48 hour week work, as this directive refers only to working hours per week and not to overtime. The name given to this directive confirms our concern. Communist and other Workers Parties represented in the European Union Left Group are of the same opinion. Trade Unions of a Communist leaning are also objecting to this directive.

“The fact that part-time employment as an extra job is not included in this directive and the fact that the worker can be obliged to work more than a 48 hour week, as long as the average overtime is not more than 8 hour per week, over a period of three months, uncovers the hidden agenda that exists to change the 40 hour week, work legislation”.

The Communist Party of Malta in favour of decreasing the 40 hour week to a 35 hour week without a decrease in pay. This will translates into more family time for the workers, improves in health and safety and an increase in new jobs.

Victor Degiovanni

Secretary