Budget: A step forward but more have to be done to address Poverty

The Communist Party of Malta views as a step forward the number of measures introduced in this budget with the aim to assist more, those pensioners on low income, persons with disability and workers on a minimum wage income.

“Regards adequacy of the national minimum wage and the national basic pension, still the budget lacks to address this precarious situation, where many will still be at-risk-of poverty.  Adequacy of the minimum wage demands a fair increase in the national minimum wage income. With regards to basic pension, for this to mature, the number of years involved should be reduced. In 20 years time the basic pension will again become inadequate”.

“With regards to measures, to assists those in need of financial assistance to be able to pay their rent for their accommodation, the party agree in principle, but other measures should have been introduced to curb the speculation with regards to rent fees, as prices will keep on increasing”.       

Communist Party of Malta - Budget should target poverty and social exclusion.

The Communist Party of Malta states that “the government should introduce measures in the coming budget that benefit mostly those in needs, such as, the people in the lower strata of society, the minimum wage earners, pensioners and single parent families”.  

The party added that “poverty is a social and economic issue, and thus a rise in the national minimum wage income should be a must, irrespective of the COLA increase. Other measures should include adjustment in the mechanism of COLA”.

“Also the government should start implementing housing reforms to help those in need in society. As things stand, with the rise in property prices and non affordable rent bills, adding also an unstable situation for workers with precarious employment and low wages,

“With regards to pensioners,  the most important aspect against poverty is the adequacy of the pension system.  The party appeals to the government to revise its policy for the national minimum pension is brought about within a shorter time period , and not as proposed on a twenty years time period”.

“Single parent families, with the majority being of female gender are also facing economical and poverty problems. Many, due to family responsibilities and commitments are opting for a part-time employment, thus working on low-pay. Thus the Government should assist financially those earning less than the minimum wage”.

The Government should also start to eradicate the abusive working conditions immigrants are facing in their daily life. The proposal, to open job centers to assist immigrants to seek job and at the same time aim legislation for decent working conditions

 should be implemented”.

Communists speak out against the part-privatisation of AirMalta

 

The Communist Party of Malta appeals to Parliament to not push forward the part-privatisation of Airmalta be it by selling shares to a foreign company or to local businessmen. The Government should safeguard the country’s state-owned assets.

 

“Other measures should be found in this regard, such as the setting up of a ‘public’ company to register part of the present workforce under this new company.  Government should also consider opening up of new subsidiary companies in the tourism sector that will be connected to the mother company AirMalta, so to assist financially the national airline". 

 

“Also the Government should consider buying 40% of the total shares of Malta International Airport, a fully privatised entity. The privatisation of MIA  has resulted in massive loss to AirMalta’s revenue.

 

AD MULTOS ANNOS FIDEL

This Message was sent yo the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba on Saturday the 13th of August on the occasion of the 90th Birthday of the Father of the Cuban Revolution Commandant Fidel Castro.  

Dear Comrades,

Please convey the best wishes of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Malta to Comrade Fidel Castro on the occasion of his 90th Birthday. Please also convey to him our best regards. Communists in Malta wish him good health and many more years to live. We all have learned  from his revolutionary experiences and his personal wisdom in matters dealing with Socialism . We are sure that He will always enlighten our path towards the Socialist construction of society, where mankind will finally do away with Capitalism for Communism and World Peace and

Fraternal Regards   

Victor Degiovanni

Secretary Central Committee

COMMUNIST PARTY of MALTA

Public Health Care should not be taken over by private entities

The Communist Party of Malta said that “the Government should invest more in public healthcare and not in the private sector. The proposed measure to incorporate the private in the running of public healthcare dentistry services in the community, shows, that public services in Malta are being taken over by private entities.

“Workers in the public health service should be aware as privatisation will push-down their working conditions and wages, as new workers will be employed under precarious conditions that include jobs on a definite contract, and others under temporary agency work contract”.

The Communist Party of Malta added that “Healthcare care should remain public and not transferred to profit-oriented entities as this threatens the concept of having a universal welfare system. Government should not use public finances to subsidise private hospitals and clinics”.

MADRID ADDRESS

Address of the Communist Party of Malta to the 10th Congress of the Communist Party of the People of Spain which was held on the 10th to 12th June 2016 at Torrejon de Ardoz Madrid.

Comrade President, Comrades,

Allow me to deliver the well wishes and Greetings of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Malta to the Leadership and all the cadres gathered here in Madrid for the 10^th Congress of the Communist Party of the People of Spain and to auger success to the deliberations of this gathering

The Communist Party in Malta started to be really active in Malta in 1969 at first it worked under a semi clandestine conditions it was still difficult to work openly although Malta was independent on paper since 1964 there was still a strong British presence on the island practically Malta was still a colony with a British Governor representing the English Monarch who at the time was the head of state. Malta was governed by a right wing conservative administration which was undemocratically elected, through the imposition of moral sanctions by the Catholic Hierarchy which still had hegemony.  This was a Party that prior to the Second War had a notorious Fascist past as its leadership was implicated in collaboration with the Mussolini regime in Italy. At that time British imperialism the Catholic Church and the local Bourgeoisie held Malta in a tight grip.

The Communist Party was never a big party in Malta as workers give support to the Labour Party a Social Democratic Party which was led a by a charismatic leader Dom Mintoff who had promised to achieve full independence by expelling the British and NATO out

The General Elections in 1971 resulted in giving victory to the Social Democrats. At that time Dom Mintoff’s party  was on the left of the Socialist International (Second International) It was an enigmatic Party as the first thing they did when it came to was to rid itself of the Communist elements that were within its rank. This was a blessing for the still young Communist Party as most of them joined the Party and ended up in the leadership

In its own way the labour administration was progressive as it nationalized the banking system in Malta, took control of broadcasting, Malta’s Port and airport, which all were still in British hands. The Communist Party gave critical support and help to that Labour administration and even acted as go between in the dealings with the Soviet Union and the Socialist Community in Eastern Europe

Furthermore that administration amended the Maltese Independence Constitution.

The Changes that came about were:,

 Malta’s Status was changed from a Monarchic state became a republic with a Maltese head of state

A Neutrality Clause was entrenched in the new Constitution.  

With these new instruments in hand Malta joined up with the non-aligned movement and started on the road to close down the British and NATO military bases on the island. In 1979 Malta became free from military bases.

The contradictions within the labour party came to head. In the mid 1980’s   Mintoff left the leadership and in 1987 the Labour party lost the general elections. The ideological weakness of that administration led to corruption and cronyism which alienated the working class. The Communist Party tried to intervene by standing up for general elections with the hope of gaining the votes lost by labour. The results were disastrous as the electorate was already decided. The Labour Party had given socialism a bad name,  also, the fact that in the last minute Dom Mintoff convinced the Party conference to change the rules of the game which favoured the right wing conservative Nationalist Party. Through these disastrous results obtained in the elections the Party lost most of its members. In 1989 with the fall of the Soviet Union and Socialist Community in Eastern Europe the party took another blow. It took almost a decade for the party to recover

At the present moment in Malta is once again governed by another Labour administration This time  it is difficult  to determine where this administration politically stands. The Labour Party today is more a liberal Party than Social Democratic Party. It is now very easy for the bourgeoisie to associate themselves with this party and when challenged the present leader denied that it was a workers and described the party as a “party of labour”.  The Labour Party returned to power in May of 2013 after an absence of 25 years The Party had   been in opposition with the exception of 22 months as in1996 the then Malta Labour Party was in government for a short period until they were brought down by their former leader Dom Mintoff who did agree with the Blairite new labour policy adopted by the then leadership

The gains the working class had made were slowly taken away by the   conservative Nationalist Party which was once more again in office. This administration applied for European Union membership. Slowly the Banks were once again privitised and an austerity policy was started to get Malta’s economic situation within the EU specifications thus the working class in Malta started to feel the crunch long before the capitalist economic crises came to a head in the rest of Europe Privatizations became the order of the day, nd all public amenities were privitised.

 Malta became a European Member State in 2002 and in 2004 the Euro was introduced eventually the high level of corruption took its toll and in the 2013 General elections they suffered a heavy loss.

The Communist Party managed to survive the crises that had overtook took it in the early 1990’s and is still recovering. The Party has yet to reach to the level of the 1980’s but today the conditions are there

Today’s Labour administration is a far cry from the Dom Mintoff administrations of the 1970’s. Today’s administration has continued on the same neo liberal policies adhered by the previous conservative administration. This is alienating its grassroots, and if the Communist   Party overcomes certain logistical problems it can once again grow in membership. This will give the Party a more influential role than it had up to now.

Long Live Marxism Leninism

Long Live The Communist Party of the People of Spain.

A Unique Debate on NATO to be Held in Malta,

 A Unique  Debate on NATO to be Held in Malta, on  May 27th, 2016*

 Friday 27, May  2016, From 18:30 am to around 20:30pm,  

at Workers memorial Building , GWU, South Street  Valletta

                   -  2nd Floor- Council Room-

FOR A PEACEFUL MEDITERRANEAN  WITHOUT FEAR !

Alba Malta North Africa Coordination , the Anti imperialist Tricontinental Platform- England  and Collettivo Askavusa from Lampedusa have the  pleasure to invite you to this Public event .

We have special guest speakers for the first time In Malta speaking  at the event, 

Sukant Chandan, Indian Political Analyst specialist on the Global South, Tricontinental Platform, England-

Lucio Santin, expert on migration issues, From Collettivo Askavusa, Lampedusa , Italy

Voices of Ex Yugoslavia Community in Malta,

AND LIVE MUSIC : BACIALA QUESTA TERRA ! 

South to South ! 

FROM SICILY TO LATINOAMERICA 

with Cesar, Fernando, Erno, Nolasco!

This last event will be dedicated to all the exiles people, refugees of NATO, forced to leave their homeland And to commemorate the  25th years of the Balkan wars.

Worker’s Day Message

 

On the occasion of the International Worker’s Day, the 1^st of May, The Communist Party of Malta said "that various workers in Malta are facing uncertainties as the right to regular and decent conditions of employment is not any more protected".

 

The Party added that “precarious work contracts are becoming the order of the day. Under these new conditions the workers suffer from precarious, insecure, uncertain, and unpredictable working conditions”.

 

“There is an urgency for progressive Trade unions, workers, social movements and the left in Malta to come together to confront this new type of exploitation, and struggle for a decent wage, a secure future, social protection, and access to rights. This universality and dimension of the problem, calls also, for a coordinated and comprehensive action at the international and European level”.

 

The Communist Party of Malta is also aware of the increase of the extreme right wing ideology which is on the rise in Europe. This ideology threatens the principle of worker’s solidarity and the emancipation of the working class. This false belief targets vulnerable workers, immigrants and other minorities, with the aim to alienate the workers from their real struggles towards social justice and a classless society”.

 

Communists call for policies that secure a better future for immigrants in Malta.

 

The Communist Party of Malta appeals to the political class and the independent media to give importance to the problems facing immigrants in Malta. The Party supports the initiative taken by the migrant community in organising a peaceful protest to raise awareness on their precarious situation.

 

“Serious issues with regards immigration, such as the right for a citizenship for those children born in Malta, the right to a secure future, decent jobs and the right to equal treatment should be on the national agenda. The Party added that "good governance is not only about fighting corruption, but also about the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the needs of all the people in society, especially the most vulnerable, such as immigrants”.

 

Statement of the Secretariat of the European Communist Initiative on MAY 1st

We are honoring the struggles of the working class and the workers of the world.
As Communist Parties, we consider this day not as a holiday, not as a simple annual event, but as an international day of proletarian solidarity and struggle of the working class and all workers.

As communist women and men, we are proud of our ideology, our values and ideals, our struggle for social progress, for the rights of peoples, for the liberation of humanity and its emancipation from the yoke of capitalism.

In our days, the working class and the laboring masses all over the world are direct witnesses and first victims of the consequences of the deep economic and social crisis of the capitalist system, which principally hits them and also other people's strata.
Capitalism leads to the worsening of working conditions, wage cuts, unemployment, insecurity and poverty on the rise and the intensification of measures of repression against class resistance and is responsible for imperialist wars and military interventions, presented under false and deceptive pronouncements, for control of markets and raw materials and chiefly the energy resources.

This fact is even more evident today. The imperialist war and aggression generate bloodshed and poverty, from which enormous numbers of migrants are attempting to flee.

The Communists play the leading role in the struggle against imperialist wars and defend the principle of internationalist struggle, work for the unity of the working class, regardless of their nationality and religion, and for the common struggle concerning labour and social rights.

On May 1st, the Communists call the working class, the workers to strengthen their mass mobilizations and intensify the class struggle, against capital, its political representatives and the anti-people political line against NATO and the EU and the other imperialist unions.

The Communists strongly reaffirm the vanguard role of the working class as the creator of all wealth, and we stress the social and historical necessity to overturn capitalism via a revolution and build a social system, where the wealth belongs to those who produce it, and the political power belongs to the great majority of the people: the working class and its allies.

We state openly and firmly, that our goal is a society with no exploitation of man by man, no imperialist wars, no hunger, no unemployment, nor poverty.

We are fighting for a society, based on the workers' power, the socialization of the means of production, the scientific centralized planning and the real and substantial democracy for the working masses, a society that will satisfy the contemporary needs of the people.

We express our internationalist solidarity to the workers in struggle, wherever they are fighting for their rights and their future.

Long live the workers' May 1st!

Workers of the world, unite!

Worker’s Day Message

 

On the occasion of the International Worker’s Day, the 1^st of May, The Communist Party of Malta said "that various workers in Malta are facing uncertainties as the right to regular and decent conditions of employment is not any more protected".

 

The Party added that “precarious work contracts are becoming the order of the day. Under these new conditions the workers suffer from precarious, insecure, uncertain, and unpredictable working conditions”.

 

“There is an urgency for progressive Tradeunions, workers, social movements and the left in Malta to come together to confront this new type of exploitation, and struggle for a decent wage, a secure future, social protection, and access to rights. This universality and dimension of the problem, calls also, for a coordinated and comprehensive action at the international and European level”.

 

The Communist Party of Malta is also aware of the increase of the extreme right wing ideology which is on the rise in Europe. This ideology threatens the principle of worker’s solidarity and the emancipation of the working class. This false belief targets vulnerable workers, immigrants and other minorities, with the aim to alienate the workers from their real struggles towards social justice and a classless society”.

Communists against the Part-Privatization of the National Pension system.

 

The Communist Party of Malta deplores the way the Minister of Finance is addressing the pension reform. The strategy adopted, although it strengthens the basic minimum state pension, it also aims to part-privatize the national pension system.

 

“The national strategy, to opt for a second and third pillar schemes, is none other than the opening up of the state pension system to private institutions. These policies form part of the neo-liberal agenda dictated by the right wing gurus and the financial institutions”, stated the Communist Party of Malta.

 

The Communist Party of Malta urges the Trade unions and the working class to voice their opposition to such neo-liberal policies and to stop once and for all the privatization of the national pension system.

PKM Expresses Solidarity with the Workers Party of Belgium

The Communist Party of Malta expresses its’ solidarity in this grave moment when the 

City of Brussels fell victim to terrorist attacks.

These violent acts are the direct result from the imperialistic policies and wars of the U.S, 

NATO, and the EU in the Middle East. These acts are also causing tensions between 

different communities across Europe. The consequence of the anti-Islamic and hate 

Rhetoric of right wing politicians is making fertile ground for Islamic fundamentalists to find 

recruits for their inane causes.

In this grave moment the Communist Party of Malta sends its sympathies to The Workers 

Party of Belgium (PTB) to its leadership and cadres and to all the victims of this 

unnecessary vile attack on the population of the City of Brussels

Communists call for policies that secure a better future for immigrants in Malta.

 

The Communist Party of Malta appeals to the political class and the independent media to give importance to the problems facing immigrants in Malta. The Party supports the initiative taken by the migrant community in organising a peaceful protest to raise awareness on their precarious situation.

 

“Serious issues with regards immigration, such as the right for a citizenship for those children born in Malta, the right to a secure future, decent jobs and the right to equal treatment should be on the national agenda. The Party added that "good governance is not only about fighting corruption, but also about the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the needs of all the people in society, especially the most vulnerable, such as immigrants”.

Communist Party of Malta denounces the EU-Turkey Immigration agreement

The Communist Party of Malta joined in a statement with other Worker’s and Communist parties forming a Solidarity Network (Solidnet) to show solidarity with the refugees and immigrants, and to take a stand against the agreement signed by the European Union with Turkey on immigration.

 

“The joint statement denounces the imperialist wars of intervention by the USA, NATO, the EU and their ‘allies’, like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Also the statement deplores bourgeois governments that follow the line of police-military repression against refugees”.

 

In conclusion the joined forces appeal the European Commission and the EU President to abolish the repressive mechanism signed between the EU and Turkey, and also to abolish the Dublin III Regulations.

 

“Constitutional Reforms should strengthen Malta’s neutrality”

 

The Communist Party of Malta stated "that reforms to the Maltese Constitution should transform the clause, that bans, Naval warships belonging to super powers from visiting Malta, into a clause that bans the Warships from all countries. This would render this clause more compatible with today's’ political situation".

 

“These progressive reforms if introduced will surely strengthen our Neutrality clause where Malta as a neutral state will actively be pursuing peace, security and social progress among all nations by adhering to a policy of non-alignment and refusing to participate in any military alliance”, stated the Communist Party of Malta.

 

The Communist Party applauds Dr Alfred Sant position on PKK

 

The Communist Party of Malta applauds Labour MEP Dr Alfred Sant for his support in signing the petition organised by a group of members of the European Parliament to remove PKK from terrorist organisations lists. This position should also be taken up by the other Maltese MEPs in the European Parliament.

 

“The Kurdish people have every right to resists the occupation of their territory which is being occupied by Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.  The Communists movement in Europe supports the Kurdish and Palestinian cause.

 

Communists approve the action taken against Social Dumping in Malta

Asian workers at Leisure Clothing

 

The Communist Party of Malta supports the steps taken by the local authorities with respect to the working conditions that where prevalent in Leisure Clothing Company, which was taken to court and accused with exploiting foreign workers coming from Asia.

 

The Communist Party of Malta insists that all the international and local companies working in Malta should respect Maltese laws and regulations with regards to the working conditions. The Party maintains that the Government should ensure that no social dumping takes place in Malta.  

 

The Party is also of the opinion that unions should protest whenever there is a case of social dumping, so to strengthen worker’s rights in all the sectors of the Maltese economy. In a globalised economic system, more militancy is needed by the workers and the unions as to ensure the safeguarding of worker’s rights”.

 

The Communist Party expresses solidarity with the Senglea residents

Workers Protest as their employment stands threatened by 
bosses in response to residents complaints 

The Communist Party of Malta expressed solidarity with the Senglea residents association which are being intimidated by the Palumbo Shipyards for taking action against the company due to the noise pollution during the night. The residents have every right to live in a safe environment.  The Party also expresses solidarity with the shipyard workers who are threatened by their bosses that they will loose their jobs if court stops night work. 

“The fact that the company is threatening to take legal action against the residents shows that the residents are in the right. If so the company should have co-operated with the police and the local authorities to solve such a problem”, stated the Communist Party of Malta.

Communists support the increase in the National Minimum Pension.

 

The Communist Party of Malta welcomes the initiative taken by the Government to increase the National Minimum basic pension. This policy is in line with the communist party proposal for the reform of the pension system.

 

“The Communist Party reiterates its positions against the introduction of the second pillar pension as this will mean part-privatization of the pension system in Malta. The Party praises the Government for not opting to introduce the second pillar”. 

 

“On the other hand the party is concerned with the time period that the full minimum basic pension will mature. The value of the pension than will remain as it is now, in terms of money depreciation. The Party appeals to the Government to find an alternative and just solution for this problem. The pension system should remain under the control of the National Social Security System”.