The Communist Party of Malta commemorated 150 Anniversary from the birth of Manwel Dimech

The Communist Party of Malta commemorated on the 25 of December the 150 Anniversary from the birth of Manwel Dimech. A delegation led by the Party’s Secretary Victor Degiovanni placed a floral wreath on Manuel Dimech’s Monument in Castille Square Valletta.

The Communist Party of Malta deems Dimech to be the founder of the Progressive Movement in Malta. He was active and founded the movement of ‘Xirka ta’ l-Imdawlin’(League of the Enlightened) in 1911. This movement was active in areas such as labour rights, education, the fight against poverty and struggle for Independence from the British Colonial Domination and even published the newspaper called ‘Bandiera tal-Maltin’.("The Maltese People's Flag") People from every sphere of society were inspired by his teachings and many followed in his footsteps, including British soldiers.

Dimech politically was a mixture of Utopian Socialism and Nationalism invoked the wrath of the Catholic Oligarchy, the Maltese ruling class, and the British Colonial authorities. On the outbreak of the first World War he was arrested by the British authorities and on the pretext of being a Turkish spy he was interned in Sidi Basr Concentration Camp in Alexandria Egypt. After the end of the War both the Catholic church and the Maltese ruling class opposed his return to Malta. Dimech died as an exile in Egypt in 1921 and was buried in an unmarked grave. Today he is considered to be a Martyr for the cause of the Maltese working class..

The Communist Party of Malta on the salary increase to Ministers and MPs.

The Communist Party of Malta strongly believes that the increase in salaries announced to Ministers and Members of Parliament is offensive to all working people. Many families are experiencing a reduction in their standard of living and poor working conditions.

"The fact that several categories of workers are being forced to bear the burden of the economic crisis and unjust energy tariffs is massively out of tune with the increase announced, of 600 euros per month to all Ministers and members of Parliament’s. When in the last fiscal budget, the cost of living increase for all workers and pensioners was only of 1.16euro per week."

The Communist Party of Malta reminds the Government to be sensitive about all those employees working on minimum wage, part-time and short term contracts who are experiencing inferior working conditions, low wage and sometimes even redundancy.

"The increase announced by the government is an insult for the working class and their families. Recent European statistics show that 59,000 people (14.6%) in Maltaare at risk of poverty."

The Communist Party of Malta believes that it is not ethical that the people’s representative should accept such an increase, when the rest of the workers are being made to carry the burden of the crises..

We appeal to all Trade Unions, political parties, civil society, students and workers to make their voices heard against this ‘shameless’ measure.

Statement of the Communist Party of Malta

On the occasion of 19^th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il’s assumption of the Supreme Commandership of the Korean People’s Army

the Communist Party of Malta extends its warm greetings of congratulations to him

Leader Kim Jong Il, who assumed a heavy responsibility of the KPA supreme commandership at such a time as the imperialists were stepping up the anti-socialist offensive against the DPRK, frustrated the aggressive schemes of the imperialists and ensured the security of socialist Korea by strengthening the army into invincible powerful forces.

As he, with the conviction of sure victory and iron will, stood in the van of the army and the people, socialism of Korea could be saved from crisis and its invincibility demonstrated throughout the world.

Under his wise Songun leadership, the DPRK has now turned into a powerful political, ideological and military power.

The Communist Party of Malta is convinced that the DPRK’s cause for building a great, prosperous and powerful nation would be finally accomplished under Supreme Commander of KPA Kim Jong Il’s wise leadership.

The Communist Party comments on the situation at Air Malta

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The Communist Party of Malta agrees with the proposal being put forward to set up a steering committee, where all trade unions representing Air Malta employees will be included. In other circumstances the Maltese Government acted on its own initiative, without any consultation, such as, in the case of Sea Malta, the Postal Service and the Gas Service, were privatization was the sole consideration.

“For once, the Centre Right Government is admitting that the national airline is of a major strategic importance to Malta, both for the economy and for the social wellbeing of the Maltese people.”

“The introduction of new laws to deregulate the aviation market in the European Union in the early 1990s has altered the service for more cost cuttings, inferior working conditions and the dismantling of national airlines across Europe. The shift towards 'budget' airlines has brought significant changes. Airlines such as Easy Jet and Ryanair have grown at the expense of the traditional national airlines. This growth was brought about as a direct cause of the neo liberal policies of the European Union.”

We believe that the Government should stop ‘outsourcing’ work to private entities, as part of the reform, as this work could be performed by Air Malta Employees, as was done in the past. This managerial behaviour is resulting in losses to the company. We suggest that measures are taken to minimize direct competition by low cost airline, to avoid having a duplication of destinations from the two airlines operating from Malta airport. The policy taken to privatise Malta International Airport has negatively affected our Airlines.

The Communist Party of Malta appeals to the Maltese Government to protect our National Airline and ensure that no worker is made redundant throughout the reform.

To the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece.

Dear Comrades,

Please allow me to convey the congratulations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Malta to the Central Committee and all the cadres of the Communist Party of Greece for the substantial electoral gains made by KKE in the recent regional elections. These gains reflect the tireless effort made by your party to increase the support of all the workers in Greece is bearing results. The Communist Party of Malta wishes more success in forthcoming struggles that the Communist Party of Greece undertakes in the interest of all those who toil for their livelihood in Greece.

Fraternal Salutations

Victor Degiovanni

for the

Central Committee

Communist Party of Malta.

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.