In a press conference near the Workers’ Memorial monument in Msida, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that workers’ class interests should come before partisan tribal politics which is often resulting in lack of trade union alliances.

Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson for Social Development, said: “On the occasion of workers’ day we should remember all workers but more importantly we should think of those who are most vulnerable such as those who work in precarious conditions and those who take home just a few hundred euros after a months’ work because the criteria which establish the minimum wage have not been revised since the 1970s. Another problem characterising our labour market is the high rate of inactivity especially among certain groups such as mothers of small children, persons with disability, older persons and ex-convicts. While we appreciate the initiatives that have been taken, we would like to see more concrete measures to address this perennial problem”.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson and spokesperson for economy and finance said: “Class differences are growing in a context of economic crisis and austerity measures. An updated methodology should replace the current one on which COLA is based so as to truly reflect rise in inflation. AD has also been calling for an increase in the minimum wage and for a revision in the way it is calculated”.

“As regards precarious employment, AD is pleased to see that legislation has been introduced to hel avoid having workers being forced to declare their situation as self-employed . Yet there are various other aspects of precarious employment such as job insecurity and low wages. Government should set the example by banning public service contracts based on unacceptable conditions”.

“AD also believes that gender equality should be stepped up in the labour market and that trade unions should step up activism for groups facing inequalities, such as persons with disability, immigrants, ex-prisoners, and ageing workers”.

Briguglio called for policies which generate green jobs, adding that the state has a vital role to play in ensuring more just and sustainable social, economic and environmental policies which effect workers’ job conditions and quality of life.

“As we are seeing in the field of energy, for example, weak governance and lack of foresight is resulting in increased hardships on workers”.

Michael Briguglio appealed to trade unions “to act on the basis of working class interests, and not on partisan tribalism, and to step-up alliance building at national, European and global levels, not only with fellow trade-unions, but also with other movements, in the struggle for a social, ecological and sustainable Europe”.

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Jum il-Haddiem: “L-Interessi tal-Klassi Jigu Qabel il-Politika Tribali” – AD

F’Konferenza Stampa hdejn il-monument tal-Haddiema fl-iMsida, Alternattiva Demokratika qalet li l-interessi tal-klassi tal-haddiema ghandhom jigu qabel il-politika tribali u partiggjana li hafna drabi tirrizulta f’nuqqas ta’ alleanzi mal-ghaqdiet tal-haddiema.

Angele Deguara, Kelliema ta’ AD ghall-Politika Socjali, qalet: “Fl-okkazjoni ta’ jum il-haddiem, ghandna niftakru fil-haddiema kollha imma aktar importanti irridu niftakru f’dawk li huma l-aktar vulnerabbli bhal dawk li jahmdu f’kundizzjonijiet prekarji ta’ xoghol u dawk li jiehdu d-dar ftit mijiet ta’ ewro fl-ahhar tax-xahar wara erba’ gimghat xoghol ghaliex il-kriterji li bihom giet stabbilita l-paga minima qatt ma gew reveduti mis-snin 70. Problema ohra li tikkaratterizza s-suq tax-xoghol taghna hija r-rata gholja ta’ nies li ma jahdmux (inactive) specjalment fost certi gruppi bhal ommijiet ta’ tfal zghar, persuni b’dizabilita’, nies ta’ certu eta u ex prigunieri. Filwaqt li napprezzaw l-inizjattivi li diga ttiehdu biex iheggu aktar nies jidhlu fis-suq tax-xoghol, nixtiequ naraw mizuri aktar konkreti biex tigi ndirizzata din il-problema”.

Michael Briguglio, Chairperson u Kelliem ghall-Ekonomija u Finanzi ta’ AD qal: “id-differenzi bejn il-klassijiet qed jikbru f’kuntest ta’ krizijiet ekonomici u mizuri ta’ awsterita’. Ghandu jkun hemm riforma fil-metodologija li tintuza ghall-COLA, sabiex verament jirrifletti iz-zieda fl-inflazzjoni. Alternattiva Demokratika ilha titlob ukoll ghal zieda fil-paga minima u ghal revizjoni fil-mod kif din tigi kkalkulata”.

“F’dak li ghandu x’jaqsam max-xoghol prekarju, AD hija sodisfatta li dahlet ligi li taghti certi salvagwardji sabiex haddiema ma jigux sfurzati li jiddikjaraw xogholhom bhala self-employed. Izda hemm aspetti ohrajn ta’ xoghol prekarju bhal nuqqas ta’ sigurta u pagi baxxi. Il-Gvern ghandu jaghti l-ezempju billi jwaqqaf kuntratti pubblici ibbazati fuq kundizzjonijiet inaccettabbli.”

“AD temmen li ghandu jkun hemm iktar ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi, u li l-unjins ghandhom izidu l-attivizmu favur kategoriji u gruppi li qed jiffaccjaw sitwazzjonijiet ta’ inugwaljanza fid-dinja tax-xoghol. Dawn jinkludu persuni b’dizabilita’, immigranti, eks-habsin u haddiema anzjani”.

“Ghandu jkun hemm politika iktar cara favur il-green jobs, u l-istat ghandu rwol ewlieni biex tigi zgurata politika socjali, ambjentali u ekonomika li tkun gusta u sostenibbli, u li jaffettaw b’mod pozittiv il-kundizzjonijiet ta’ xoghol u l-kwalita’ tal-hajja.”

“Bhal ma qed naraw fil-qasam ta’ l-energija, governanza dghajfa u nuqqas ta’ ppjanar qed iwasslu ghal tbatijiet ghal hafna haddiema.”

Michael Briguglio appella lill-unjins sabiex “jibbazaw l-attivizmu taghhom fl-interess tal-klassi tal-haddiema, u mhux fuq partiggjanizmu tribali. Nappella ukoll lill-unjins biex ikattru iktar alleanzi fuq livelli nazzjonali, Ewropej u globali, mhux biss ma’ unjins ohra, izda wkoll ma’ movementi ohrajn, fil-glieda ghal Ewropa u dinja iktar socjali, ekologika u sostenibbli.”