AD’s budget proposals: Increase minimum wage, develop a ‘progressive-oriented budget’

Alternattiva Demokratika today called for a cross-party consensus to increase the minimum wage.

Addressing a press conference, the green party said the budget should have a "progressive orientation" so as to meet the social, economic and environmental challenges in Malta.

AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said the increase in minimum wage was essential as many workers were finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. He did however concede that the Maltese economy was doing relatively well in terms of job creating and unemployment levels.

"Increasing minimum wage can have positive economic and social effects in terms of productivity and purchasing power," Briguglio said.

He said that COLA adjustments should take place every six months so as to have a more realistic and timely compensation for workers.

"As a responsible party, we also hold that government expenditure should be balanced through progressive taxation and other measures such as taxation of vacant properties, from the third vacant property onwards," Briguglio said.

AD's spokesman for energy Ralph Cassar said government should invest in renewable energy by investing in a shift toward solar and wind energy and in schemes for solar energy that have "universal access".

"The more Malta invests in renewable energy, the less dependent we will be on dirty fossil fuels which are likely to keep increasing in cost. We also hold that whilst basic energy use should be subsidised, waste should be penalized," Cassar added.

AD also called for increased investment in public transport and for policies geared towards sustainable use of water.

Angele Deguara, AD's spokesperson for social policy, said that Budget 2013 should seek to reduce social inequalities and injustice. She said that more measures were needed to facilitate the access to the labour market by vulnerable groups such as women with small children.  

"Family-friendly measures need to be more widely available both in the public and private sector for both men and women so that both will be able to achieve a work-life balance and to actively participate in family life," Deguara said.

On disability, Deguara said this should be a priority in the budget. She said that the disability pension, that currently stands at 55% of minimum wage, should increase.

"Such measures not only empower people to achieve their potential but are also beneficial to the economy," she added.