‘Third pillar pensions will increase social division’ – Briguglio

The introduction of third pillar pensions without a second pillar pension system will increase the social division between people who can afford it and people who can’t, Sliema councilor and ex-AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said, while encouraging the government to introduce a second-pillar pension.

He was speaking at the second session of  the first national convention organized by the PN to listen to the ideas of people outside of the party.

Briguglio also suggested that Malta improve its social welfare system.

“We have a hybrid welfare system that has worked well during the global economic crisis, but we must keep improving it,” Briguglio said, warning that poverty is on the rise. “Policies must reflect the needs of citizens, not of consumers. The government is using a dangerous discourse that blames social dependency on the poor people.”

Meanwhile, MaltaToday’s own journalist James Debono advised the PN to put ‘the common good’ at the centre of their policies.

“The country needs to have clear policies as what the common good means, because it is something broad that ranges from environmental health to public transport to pensions,” Debono said, while echoing Brigulio’s call for a strong welfare state and for second-pillar pensions.

“We’d have to pay more for a second-pillar pension system but it will ensure the security of everyone’s future, not only those who can afford the third-pillar scheme,” Debono said.

“Social class disparity is a reality in Malta and we still tend to associate poverty with laziness, when there are some poor people who don’t work because they are suffering from a mental illness.”

However, he criticised the public appearance of political leaders as ‘cheerleaders’ and warned of the possible repercussions of the EU-US TTIP agreement.

“We need to be aware of certain clauses within the TTIP that give power to multi-national companies that could overrule the power of the state,” Debono said.

Meanwhile, Caritas PRO Marica Mizzi said that NGOs remain crucial to society as the voice of the weak, and that Maltese youth need to be encouraged to perform voluntary work. However, she criticized the bureaucracy that Maltese NGOs face.

“A lot of NGOs are facing financial problems but find too much red tape when it comes to applying for available funds,” Mizzi said.

One of the PN’s recent MEP candidates Jonathan Shaw questioned the value of the education system.

“Is the rat race for grades that begins at such a young age creating the right leaders of the future?” Shaw questioned. “The unemployment figures may be good but we must start looking at the quality of work. Employers are complaining that they simply can’t find employees with the right skills that fit certain jobs. On the other hand, employees are complaining that employers aren’t giving them enough opportunities to expand their skills.”

Shaw said that progress can only be achieved through good governance and by a change in the cultural mindset of people.

“The survival-of the-fittest mindset only works for the short-term,” Shaw said. “Good governance may not be as sexy as other electoral promises but it is crucial to ensure long-term success.”

He also urged the people present at the convention to drive home as though looking at Malta for the first time.

“You’ll notice a lot of small things, a broken wall here, a damaged road there, which we tend to ignore. They’re small things

“There are small things, that you would notice if you were to drive back home with the mentality of seeing everything for the first time, that we tend to ignore. They’re small things but they all add up and people need to have a mentality that notices and tries to alleviate these problems.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Joe Ellis called for more financial investment in Gozo.

“Politicians need to take responsibility for the lack of foreign investment in Gozo,” Ellis said. “Financial investment in Gozo remains very low when compared to what it is in Malta. For example, the igaming sector, so successful to Malta’s economy, is not present in Gozo. This helps create a negative network affect in Gozo.”

Ellis also called for a change in the role of the Gozo Minister into one that would promote economic development in Gozo.

“Issues related to employment, education and health of the Gozitan people should be in the hands of the Gozo Ministry, not of the respective ministries in Malta,” Ellis said. “Politicians need to ensure the economic dynamism of Gozo while maintaining its cultural heritage.”