Government is failing to tackle head on in an immediate and effective manner the challenges being brought about by the ever-increasing prices of goods and services. As salaries remain unchanged, the purchasing power is continuously being eroded. According to calculations based on the increase in prices of essential commodities registered in the first five months of this year, the Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is projected to reach a weekly increase of €7 or €8 – this will be among the highest COLA since 1990.

Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that ADPD – The Green Party has been insisting that COLA should be awarded twice a year – and what is happening and these latest calculations prove us right. This proposal had also been included in our electoral manifesto in view of the ever-increasing number of people living in poverty or on the edge of it.

Deputy Chairperson Sandra Gauci insisted that Government and the social partners should not dilly-dally any further about this issue and should study it seriously with urgency. Who is trying to make ends meet from day-to-day cannot wait till the end of the year to be granted the COLA in arrears.

We call for the cost of living increase to be granted as from the 1st of July.

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Għandha tingħata żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja (il-COLA) f’nofs is-sena

Is-sitwazzjoni taż-żieda tal-prezzijiet qed iġġib magħha sfidi li bħalissa l-gvern qiegħed jipposponi milli jaffronta b’mod effettiv u immedjat. Safrattant il-purchasing power tal-Maltin nieżel bil-pagi jitilfu s-saħħa u jibqgħu l-istess.  Jidher miż-żieda s’issa fil-prezzijiet tal-affarijiet essenzjali kif imkejla fl-ewwel ħames xhur tas-sena li ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja (l-COLA) hemm ċans li tlaħħaq bejn is-€7 u €8 fil-ġimgħa. Din hi fost l-għola li qatt kellna mill-1990 lil hawn.

Iċ-Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo qal li ADPD – The Green Party ilu jisħaq li ż-żieda tal-għoli tal-ħajja għandha tingħata darbtejn fis-sena u issa anke l-fatti u ċ-ċifri qed jagħtuna raġun. Din il-proposta li kienet ukoll fil-manifest elettorali tagħna u saret fid-dawl tan-numri dejjem jikbru ta’ nies jgħixu fil-faqar jew li qegħdin f’xifer il-faqar.

Sandra Gauci, Deputat Chairperson saħqet li hu l-mument li l-Gvern u l-isħab soċjali jħarsu bis-serjetà lejn kif qed jiżviluppa dan ix-xenarju. Min qed jgħix b’mezzi limitati ma jistax joqgħod jistenna sal-aħħar tas-sena biex jieħu ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja.

Ninsistu li b’effett mill-ewwel ta’ Lulju tingħata ż-żieda dovuta għall-għoli tal-ħajja.