Monday, 2nd November 2009 - 13:12CET
GWU says cost of living adjustment should also apply to students
The GWU has called for a downward revision of tax bands, a downward revision of utility bills, a reduction of VAT on maintenance works and catering establishments, and an upward revision of the minimum wage and pensions.
General Secretary Tony Zarb told a press conference that the union's proposals were based on competitiveness, a reduction in the cost of living and improving living standards.
He said the union wanted to see a greater number of people falling into the non-taxable band so that they could enjoy more purchasing power.
He insisted that the COLA cost of living adjustment should be paid to everyone in full, according to the existing mechanism. COLA, he said, should also be given pro-rata to students receiving stipends.
The union, Mr Zarb said, was also calling for a reduction in government induced costs, particularly for businesses.
He said that the national minimum pension should be equivalent to 60 per cent of the average wage from this January rather than January 1, 2027, as the government had proposed.
In his press conference Mr Zarb called for government action to reduce hospital waiting lists. He also called for a new mechanism to ensure that medicine prices did not continue to increase.
He said the government should provide more childcare centresto enable more women to work/
The government should also draw up a national strategy on tourism, including incentives for hotels to improve their product, better marketing and incentives for Gozo.
"The GWU is continuing to insist that in current circumstances, Malta's competitveness has to be safeguarded in order to, in turn ,safeguard the standard of living achieved over the years. This will stimulate the economy, which is essential for social harmony," Mr Zarb said.
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One more thing. Malta doesn't have the second largest Oil Reserves known in the world either.
Don't start and compare the level of Taxation here in Malta with that of Canada. I don't know where u reside whether it is here in Malta or in Canada. Rate of taxation in Canada various from one province to another. So if you want to have an intelligent discussion you should state which province it is. In Canada there is more then the Federal tax that is levied.
I won't comment on the recent Federal Budget measures which I understand was brought down last January, I am sure that Joseph Martinelli is more then capable in doing so. But I will just point three things out to you.
1) The Personal exemption here in Malta is much higher than it is in Canada at the federal level.
2) If you reside in Canada, can you tell what it cost you to send a child to university in tuition fees alone. In Malta it cast one nothing, zero, zilg, nada; and
3) How much those it cost in land tax for your roof. OOOPs, sorry that is a city tax which also encompass the Provincial levy for the educational assessment.
Tax Relief for Canadians......Budget 2009 will deliver $20 billion in personal income tax relief over 2008–09 and the next five fiscal years. Effective January 1, 2009, this includes:
•Increasing the basic personal amount and the top of the two lowest personal income tax brackets by 7.5 per cent above their 2008 levels, so that Canadians can earn more income before paying federal income taxes or before being subject to higher tax rates.
•Raising the level at which the National Child Benefit supplement for low-income families and the Canada Child Tax Benefit are phased out, providing a benefit of up to $436 for a family with two children.
•Providing up to an additional $150 of annual tax savings for low- and middle-income seniors through a $1,000 increase to the Age Credit amount.
MARTINELLI I CAN WRITE LOADS OF OTHER INCENTIVES THAT THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND TO PUT MORE MONEY IN ONES POCKET SO THAT PEOPLE SPEND MORE.
I GUESS CANADA IS IN RECESSION TOO RIGHT? CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME A LIST OF ALL THE INCENTIVES THAT YOUR DEAR GONZIPN GAVE IN THE LAST BUDGET??
please read my whole post.... let me copy-paste a phrase I wrote: 'they should be reduced to the normal rate for everyone, EXCEPT PERHAPS TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO NEED TO BUY A LOT OF EQUIPMENT, and won't use the stipend on things like ipods, mp3/4's etc... in other words, kapricci' - was I clear enough now?!? I guess your course, and courses such as dentists, who btw need to spend a lot of equipment but are given the basic stipend I heard, would qualify for the increased rate of stipend.
I hope you do understand English after all!
J Martinelli...Why Complain? I m sure this budget won t be affecting you...
Your comment is a contradiction in terms. It is for Cost Of Living Increase that's why it is Cost of Living Adjustment. It has got nothing to do with production.
Do I detect a serious rift between the GWU and their 'favourite' Party?
Maybe Malta government should set up a Ministry of Impossibility. Tony Zarb qualifies for the job, hands down!
I am one of those that you describe as special students, doing Engineering. Please note that in order to do our assignments and projects we spend a lot of money. This scholastic year, (from beginning of October till now, i.e. only a month) I already spent about 400 Euro to buy components for my project, excluding all books and photocopies that i also had to buy. So please remove it from your mind that we that receive a little extra stipend are spending it on "ipods, mp3/4's etc... in other words, kapricci".
Why is it so hard for them to realise that Malta's largest union has the right to make proposals?
Disagreeing is fine, but the level of tolerance shown by the usual anti GWU commentators would have been shocking had we had no idea of the real reason behind these comments..
I mean..the phrase THANK GOD AND GOVERNMENT really says it all doesn t it? How can one argue against such a statement?
Just to let you know that last week it was reported that UHM suggested that the Tax rate would be lowered from 35% to 25%, MEA suggested other similar measures, MHRA the same. Are all these institutions living in cukoos land? I do not recall that you had commented the same way you are doing to GWU and PL. It is obvious what are your intentions. Please be objective! Many agree that part of the econimic recession in Malta is self induced by our "serious policies" such as the higher utility bills. No country in Europe had increased the utility bills during the last year. Could it be that other EU countries are not buying the same commodoties with the same price we do? What is going on? It is good to ride the wagoon cart of the economic crisis!!
I am a student, and don't agree with the GWU here. there are students who have quite enough stipends - I am talking about the 'special science' students here. they certainly don't need more money. the other 'normal rate' students, like i am, have enough, in my opinion. [to say the truth, i don't think the special rate stipends really work, students still choose whichever course they want - they should be reduced to the normal rate for everyone, except perhaps to those students who need to buy a lot of equipment, and won't use the stipend on things like ipods, mp3/4's etc... in other words, kapricci].
enough is as good as too much... as i think the saying goes. we should try to use some common sense and don't increase expense where it can be avoided. remember, we are still in a recession, and like it or not, it would benefit us more in the long run if we make some sacrifices now and be okay later on. selfishness does not help anyone.
btw...GWU=PL-we all know that...right?
And can the GWU kindly explain how we can remain competitive while sharply increasing the wages? Hasn't it been the same GWU that a few months ago actually lowered the salaries of its own workers?
On the other hand the national minimum pension shoul be increased as early as possible in January 2010. All services and prices are rocketing skyhigh. Pensioners need to have money in their hands now.
JUST LIKE MUSCAT, ZARB HAS HIS SHOPPING LIST BUT NO IDEA HOW TO PAY FOR IT!
LETS GET SERIOUS PLEASE! LETS LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ABROAD AND THANK GOD AND GOVERNMENT SERIOUS POLICIES THAT WE ARE NOT IN A BIG CRISES LIKE THE UK, CYPRUS, GREECE AND SPAIN ARE, AND INSTEAD OF COMING UP WITH THIS TYPE OF SHOPPING LIST WE PUT OUR EFFEORTS TOGETHER TO WEATHER THE CRISES BETTER AND CREATE MORE JOBS!