GWU proposes rebates, tax band revision

Rebates, a revision of income tax bands and a review of the Retail Price Index every two months were among the proposals put forward to Government by the General Workers' Union to cushion the fuel surcharge.

In a statement, the GWU said it was the only social partner in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) to put forward proposals to mitigate the 55 per cent water and electricity surcharge announced in the last Budget.

The proposals were however turned down by the government, claiming that the oil increase burden had been shared fairly.

The GWU said that the 38 per cent increase in the surcharge should have been spread over three years and not introduced at once. The union also argued that as the price of fuel was to be revised every two months, the Retail Price Index should also be reviewed bimonthly.

The union suggested that the allocation of free electricity units should increase from 600 to 800, which would mean that a family of three would save Lm10 on water and Lm12.50 on electricity.

Pensioners should benefit from the full cost of living allowance while those pensioners who chose to work part-time should benefit from pro rata leave for the hours they worked.

The GWU urged the government to suspend the law which stipulated that public holidays falling on a weekend are not added to employees' annual leave entitlement, and to provide tax rebates to encourage investment in alternative energy sources.

The GWU statement made it clear that the union was prepared to go it alone in its quest to convince the government to mitigate the "burdens" on workers and pensioners.