Pension reform

The report Pension Reform Crucial (Ocotber 11) should be a cause of great concern for all Maltese both living in Malta and overseas. While there is no doubt that Malta's entry to the EU and the proposed adoption of the euro in 2008 are events that will strengthen Malta's economy and open the island state to a vast array of opportunities that were formerly out of reach, the government and anyone involved in the economic reform processes necessary, need to continually keep in mind the potential human cost involved. If the pension reform said to be so "crucial" erodes the level of financial support currently afforded to retired Maltese, then I say the cost is too high and is a false economy.

Those who have spent their lives working and are now enjoying their retirement years do not deserve to have their livelihood and standard of living placed in jeopardy. Is the introduction of the euro really worth taking food off the table of the elderly?

While everyone accepts that the Maltese economy must undergo reform if the benefits of membership of the EU are to be fully realised, penalising the more vulnerable is simply not the right way to go. Having a deficit that is under three per cent is a great goal. Having elderly citizens deprived or destitute is not.