Much has been said over the fact that the Labour Party has not come up with concrete proposals for the pensions' issue. Some have made the argument that Labour should be ashamed that, after a "decade" of discussions, it has not come up with a concrete position. Labour is being criticised for calling for an electoral mandate and a pre-agreed stipulated schedule before delving into a widespread popular consultation process, together with a parallel similar exercise with experts and all the social and political forces in the country, aiming at reaching national political consensus on the issue.

What is wrong with that! Are we all unable to see that there has never been a specific electoral mandate on the issue? Are we all so engrossed in party political arguments that we cannot perceive that there is popular uncertainty on many aspects of the proposals submitted by the government? Are we all so distracted we cannot see that what is being proposed by the government falls too short of targeting the proper objectives that a pensions' system should achieve, that of effective social justice for all? Have we all become so blind to simple analysis? Are we all accepting that economic and financial considerations alone should be the a priori of a pensions system?

I believe not! I have come across technical experts who do have a very sceptic opinion about the government's proposals. I have come across many who would like to have more information on what is being proposed. I have come across many who are afraid of what is to come about as a result of such proposals. There are many who want to know and have a right to know, but are not succeeding in having their enquiries answered.

Does this promote a healthy long-lasting genuine attempt to address the pensions issue? It is not enough to have some leading economists, financiers, actuarians and other relevant technical experts in the sphere who embrace the government's proposals with regard to only one third of the whole pensions system, while many others, particularly so many citizens who are practically not understanding the serious implications of some of the proposals made, are left completely to their own reasoning and fears! What is wrong about going to the people to hear their expectations on the issue and then have the experts translate that into proposals within the macro social, economic and financial context of the country?

In other countries, such as the UK, civil society played and is playing an important role in this popular consultation process. Age Concern in the UK, a non-governmental organisation embracing about 400 local and regional organisations, was and is a catalyst in an ongoing process of popular discussion and awareness-building on the issue. It has managed to bring many a recommendation for the consideration of the government. Unfortunately, we cannot boast of such an organisation in Malta, but with the input of the main political parties and other pressure groups, such popular widespread consultation can be secured and, subsequently, achieve the desired results.

Any government should try its utmost to achieve popular consensus on such an issue that affects each and every one of us. This is not abdication of responsibility but an effective democratic style of governing. Such an approach is very important for the pensions issue.

Pensions are the sole means for so many of us later on in life. Pensions do not only involve financial and economic considerations. Pensions are essentially a social issue. Thus, the matter does merit the input of as many of us as possible.

The setting up of a national commission, the commissioning of a number of reports and the publishing of a simple White Paper are not enough to ensure that all social implications resulting from any proposals for a new pensions system are fully considered.

Many a time in this country political parties have resorted to direct community level consultations and awareness-building for political reasons. So why not for the pensions issue, which surely merits all sorts of efforts in order to assure effective social justice, before putting in place a system that should have a concrete basis and not a system which, God forbid, could become part of the never ending Maltese political yo-yo?

Ms Coleiro is shadow minister for social solidarity.

marie-louise.coleiro@gov.mt

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