The cost of living is still rising astronomically, in spite of Government subsidies for electricity, petrol, diesel, wheat and cereals. Over the past few weeks estimates published in the media indicate that there will be a record cost of living adjustment that is awarded every year during the budget speech. This is expected to surpass €8 a week. It stands to reason that low-income earners such as those on the minimum wage, pension or social services cannot wait for six months to be able to purchase essential items.

At a press conference in Valletta, in front of Parliament, on Saturday morning, ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo emphasized that in these circumstances the cost-of-living adjustment should be awarded twice a year – on the 1st of July and on the 1st of January – in line with ADPD’s 2022 electoral proposal.

ADPD – The Green Party Deputy Chairperson Sandra Gauci highlighted how in the current circumstances of rising cost of imports brings to the fore the fact that our agriculture sector has been weakened. It is no coincidence that this has happened when one sees the attitude of successive governments towards this sector. The haphazard expansion of the roads infrastructure has increasingly eaten up valuable agricultural land which in turn is impacting on our daily lives.

Gauci emphasized that it was futile for the government to introduce incentive schemes to encourage young people to take up agriculture at the same time that it continues to bulldoze through arable land and reducing many a farmer to tears.

It is also imperative that the Authority responsible for Consumer Affairs takes the necessary action before it receives complaints: it needs to be proactive. The rapid cost of living increase is hitting the low-income earners the most – they urgently need to be protected against those who try all tricks to squeeze out any extra profit in the circumstances.

ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo stated that the minimum wage should be  a living wage. Caritas’ studies have repeatedly shown that the minimum wage is below what is necessary for it to be a living wage. Although there have been additional measures to assist minimum wage earners not to remain dependent on it in the long term, this does not sufficiently address the lack of sufficient income for vulnerable individuals.

The minimum wage must be a living wage. It is not. All workers have the right to a fair wage. The minimum wage should be sufficient in order for the necessary basic family requirements. Our economy should reflect human needs.

We are surprised to note that the document published yesterday by Government for public consultation (A Social Vision for Malta 2035) fails to refer to all this. It seems that for Government the need for a living wage is not a real social issue!

Carmel Cacopardo concluded that this year’s particular circumstances (and whenever similar situations occur) the cost of living should not be awarded at the end of the year but also mid-year. Vulnerable individuals need protection now, they cannot wait another 6 months.

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L-għoli tal-ħajja tkisser liż-żgħir

Minkejja li l-Gvern ħa miżuri biex jissussidja l-elettriku, petrol, diesel, qamħ u ċerejali, il-ħajja qed togħla b’mod esaġerat. Il-kalkoli li saru u li ġew ippubblikati fuq il-media matul il-ġimgħat li għaddew juru li ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja li bil-liġi tingħata kull sena u titħabbar waqt id-diskors tal-budget ser tkun waħda record u taqbeż it-€8 fil-ġimgħa. Ma jagħmilx sens li noqgħodu nistennew sal-aħħar tas-sena għax min qed jgħix b’paga minima inkella bil-pensjoni jew servizzi soċjali ma jistax joqgħod is-sitt xhur li ġejjin jittewweb jistenna ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja biex ikun jista’ jixtri l-affarijiet essenzjali.

Dan qalu Carmel Cacopardo, Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party waqt konferenza stampa is-Sibt filgħodu fil-Belt Valletta, quddiem il-Parlament, filwaqt li emfasizza li f’dawn iċ-ċirkustanzi ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja għandha tingħata darbtejn fis-sena: fl-1 ta’ Lulju u fl-1 ta’ Jannar, kif proposta minn ADPD waqt il-kampanja elettorali 2022.

Sandra Gauci, Deputat Chairperson fissret kif f’dawn iċ-ċirkustanzi, fejn kull ma jiġi impurtat qiegħed jogħla b’mod esaġerat tinħass in-nuqqas ta’ agrikultura b’saħhitha. Dan, emfasizzat Gauci mhux b’kumbinazzjoni imma għax gvern wara ieħor lill-agrikultura taha bis-sieq. It-toroq żviluppati bl-addoċċ b’mod li qed tittiekel dejjem iktar raba’ tajba biex tinħadem qegħdin inħossu l-effett tagħhom.

Hu inutli, emfasizzat Gauci, li ninkoraġġixxu skemi li jinċentivaw lill-ġenerazzjoni żgħażugħa biex tħares lejn il-biedja jekk fl-istess nifs il-Gvern jibqa’ għaddej b’gaffa wara l-oħra jeqred għelieqi għammiela u jbikki bidwi wara l-ieħor.

F’dawn ic-ċirkustanzi huwa essenzjali li l-awtorità responsabbli għall-ħarsien tal-konsumatur tkun pro-attiva u ma toqgħodx tistenna li jidħlu l-ilmenti biex din tieħu azzjoni. Iż-żieda mgħaġġla tal-għoli tal-ħajja qed tkisser liż-żgħir li għandu ħtieġa urġenti li jkun imħares anke minn min jipprova japprofitta ruħu miċ-ċirkustanzi.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD ikkummenta ukoll dwar il-ħtieġa li l-paga minima tkun waħda li tista’ tgħix biha (living wage). L-istudji ripetuti li diġà saru mill-Caritas ripetutament urew li anke qabel l-aġġustament meħtieġ għall-għoli tal-ħajja il-paga minima hi waħda miżera. Filwaqt li wieħed japprezza l-passi li ttieħdu fil-passat biex ħadd ma jibqa’ fit-tul dipendenti minn paga minima hu fatt li din il-miżura waħedha mhux se tindirizza l-insuffiċjenza ta’ dħul għall-vulnerabbli.

Il-paga minima teħtieġ li tkun waħda diċenti. Mhijiex. Min jaħdem għandu dritt għal paga ġusta. Il-paga minima trid tkun paga li tista’ tgħix biha għax tkun tkopri l-ħtiġijiet bażiċi tal-familja. Għandna bżonn ekonomija sensittiva għall-ħtiġijiet umani.

Hu b’sorpriża kbira li innutajna li d-dokument ippubblikat mill-Gvern il-bieraħ għall-konsultazzjoni pubblika (Viżjoni Soċjali għal Malta 2035) jonqos milli jagħmel l-iċken referenza għal dan. Għall-Gvern il-ħtieġa li l-paga tkun tajba biex tgħix biha (living wage) mhiex issue soċjali reali!

Hu essenzjali, ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo, li fiċ-ċirkustanzi partikolari ta’ din is-sena (u kull meta dan jirrepeti ruħu) li ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja ma iddumx sitt xhur oħra biex tiġi. Min hu vulnerabbli ma jistax jistenna, għax jilħaq jitkisser iktar milli diġà hu.