GRTU to demand compensation if rent reform proposals are pushed through

The GRTU in a strong statement this afternoon said is would demand record compensation for businesses "robbed" of their rented premises if the current rent law proposals are pushed through.

It said the proposed reform is the "rip-off of the century".

"Thousands of small businesses will be robbed of what they are entitled to under the present laws if what the government is proposing is accepted by Parliament," the GRTU said.

"Whatever (Social Policy) Minister John Dalli and his team of “experts” say, the current law gives tenants in commercial outlets an assurance which is as good as money in the bank.

"What the government is proposing is to rob people of their wealth. It’s as simple as that."

It insisted that the main issue is the safeguard that successive Maltese governments have given to the self- employed and to small business owners that they will not be evicted of their rented business premises at the whim of the land owner.

"What the government is proposing today is tantamount to requisition of private businesses by land owners without compensation."

The GRTU argued that the government is not even putting forward proposals to compensate business owners for what is being taken away.

"The government does not even have an idea of how many thousands of business owners are going to be effected. It is unbelievable that the government is proposing a reform and does not present any statistics
whatsoever to prove and substantiate the arguments presented."

The chamber said that if the government wants to turn its back on small business owners and forget all the Nationalist Party’s past commitments to the self employed and small business owners, then it should be prepared to pay the heavy political price.

"The government, on the other hand, must be prepared to come forward to pay the heavy economic price to
compensate those who by Act of Parliament will be robbed."

The GRTU said it will be demanding compensation to tenants denied their rights at law, warning it will be the highest ever recorded in Malta. "Current estimates indicate tens of hundreds of millions," it said.