AD has been the only party which has consistently called on Government to protect those on low income by considering a revision in the minimum wage which in reality is a social wage. AD supports the proposal made by Caritas that people who find low-income employment should not stop receiving certain benefits. This would not only ensure a more decent income to such workers but would also act as an incentive for people not to continue depending only on benefits. AD is satisfied that once again the Church NGO Caritas is confirming the need for the Government to protect not only those who do not work from the poverty trap but also those who work but receive a very low income. In-work poverty is a reality experienced by a significant number of workers who find it difficult to support their families.

AD Chairperson, Arnold Cassola, said:  “We acknowledge that there are a number of initiatives which are aimed at alleviating the  poverty of low-income earners such as tax exemptions, government subsidies on basic utilities as well as other benefits. However, the Green Paper on Poverty and Social Inclusion which was published last week makes no reference to the possibility of a revision of the minimum wage. We once again urge the Government not to rule out such an important measure aimed at reducing poverty. We urge the Government to consider the proposals made by Caritas to find a balance between ensuring a decent standard of living to low-income earners without encouraging welfare dependency.”

…

AD hija l-uniku partit li b’mod konsistenti sejħet lill-Gvern biex jipproteġi lil dawk li għandhom dhul baxx billi jikkunsidra reviżjoni fil-paga minima, li hija fil-fatt paga soċjali.  AD tappoġġa l-proposti li għamlet dan l-aħħar il-Caritas biex persuni li jsibu xogħol bi dħul baxx ma jwaqqfulhomx ċerti benefiċċji. Dan mhux biss ifisser li ħaddiema bħal dawn ikollhom dħul aktar diċenti imma jservi wkoll ta’ inċentiv biex inqas persuni jibqgħu jiddependu biss mill-benefiċċji soċjali. AD hija sodisfatta li għal darb’oħra l-għaqda tal-Knisja il-Caritas qegħda tikkonferma l-ħtieġa li l-Gvern jipproteġi  min-nassa tal-faqar mhux biss lil dawk li ma jaħdmux imma wkoll lil dawk li jaħdmu imma jirċievu dħul baxx ħafna. Il-faqar fost dawk li jaħdmu huwa realta` li jgħixu numru konsiderevoli ta’ ħaddiema li jsibuha diffiċli biex imantnu lill-familja tagħhom.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ AD, Arnold Cassola, qal: “Aħna nafu li hemm numru ta’ inċentivi li l-għan tagħhom huwa li jtaffu l-faqar ta’ dawk li għandhom dħul baxx bħal eżenzjonijiet mit-taxxa, sussidji tal-Gvern fuq id-dawl u l-ilma u benefiċċji oħra. Iżda, il-Green Paper dwar il-faqar u l-esklużjoni soċjali li kienet ippubblikata l-ġimgħa l-oħra ma tagħmilx referenza għall-possibilita’ ta’ reviżjoni fil-paga minima. Għal darb’oħra nħeġġu l-Gvern biex ma jeskludix miżura daqshekk importanti li tista’ tnaqqas il-faqar. Inħeġġu lill-Gvern biex jikkunsidra l-proposti tal-Caritas biex jinstab bilanċ bejn livell ta’ għixien diċenti għal dawk li għandhom dħul baxx mingħajr ma nħajru dipendenza fuq il-benefiċċji soċjali.”