AD believes that despite the fact that the budget provides for positive measures towards social justice, there are measures which send out conflicting messages.
AD Spokesperson for Social Policy, Robert Callus, said: “AD welcomes measures such as incentives to make work pay but at the same time we have to ensure that the jobs on offer are not precarious jobs because such incentives would only be short-term. Other positive measures include the provision of free childcare which would enable the parents of small children to find a work-life balance. However the Government has to ensure that in practice, childcare services are truly accessible to those who need them. AD is disappointed that both the minimum wage and the disability pension have once again not been increased despite the fact that thousands of people can benefit from such measures. Furthermore, while a reduction in utility bills may lead to more money in people’s pockets, it could also mean more waste. AD believes in incentives which would also encourage people of low income to be able to invest in alternative energy.”
AD Chairperson, Prof Arnold Cassola, said: “AD has always made equality and social justice a priority in its policies. We are very disappointed that both Government and Opposition were in favour of lowering the tax burden of higher income earners, leading to a loss of Government revenue, while opposing an increase in the minimum wage. AD believes in a progressive tax regime which would ensure the provision of a just, equitable and sustainable welfare state coupled with incentives to make work pay.”
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AD temmen li minkejja l-fatt li l-budget jinkludi miżuri pożittivi ta’ gustizzja soċjali, hemm miżuri oħra li jibagħtu messaġġ konfliġġenti.
Il-kelliem ta’ AD għall-Politika Soċjali, Robert Callus, qal: “AD tilqa’ b’sodisfazzjon miżuri bħal inċentivi biex iħajru lin-nies jaħdmu imma fl-istess ħin irridu naraw li x-xoghol li qiegħed jiġi offrut m’huwiex xogħol prekarju għaliex inkella l-inċentivi ma jservux għat-tul. Miżuri oħra pożittivi jinkludu l-proviżjoni ta’ servizzi tal-ħarsien tat-tfal b’xejn li huma ta’ għajnuna għal ġenituri bi tfal żgħar biex ikunu jistgħu isibu bilanċ bejn il-ħajja privata u x-xogħol. Pero’ il-Gvern irid jara li fil-prattika dawn is-servizzi ikunu verament aċċessibbli għal min għandu bżonnhom. AD hija diżappuntata li kemm il-paga minima kif ukoll il-pensjoni tad-diżabilita’ reġgħu għal darb’oħra ma żdidux anke jekk eluf ta’ persuni jistgħu igawdu minn miżuri bħal dawn. Barra minn hekk, filwaqt li tnaqqis fil-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma jista’ jfisser iktar flus fil-but, jista’ jfisser ukoll aktar ħela. AD tippreferi tara miżuri li jħajjru wkoll lil min għandu dħul baxx biex jinvesti f’enerġija alternattiva.”
Iċ-chairperson ta’ AD, Prof Arnold Cassola, qal: “AD dejjem tat priorita’ lill-ugwaljanza u l-ġustizzja soċjali fil-politka tagħha. Aħna diżappuntati li kemm il-Gvern kif ukoll l-Oppożizzjoni qablu li jnaqqsu t-taxxa lil min jaqla’ ‘l fuq minn 19,000 ewro, li jfisser tnaqqis fid-dħul tal-Gvern, filwaqt li t-tnejn jopponu żieda fil-paga minima. AD temmen f’sistema ta’ taxxa progressiva li biha tista’ tipprovdi servizzi u benefiċċji soċjali sostenibbli għal soċjeta aktar ekwa u ġusta, flimkien ma inċentivi li jħajru aktar nies jidħlu fid-dinja tax-xogħol.”
