GWU’s budget wish-list

The General Workers’ Union’s wish list for next Monday’s Budget includes lower income tax and VAT rates, lower utility bills, a higher minimum wage and pensions, plus a pro-rata cost-of-living allowance added to students’ stipends.

These, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said, fell within the three priorities set by the union for the budget: improving competitiveness, controlling the cost of living and improving people’s standard of living.

Mr Zarb insisted the country needed a strong economic stimulus and measures which left more money in people’s pockets.

The document containing the union’s proposals was approved by the GWU National Council on October 15 and submitted to the Finance Ministry the following day.

Mr Zarb explained that the VAT rate on economic activities which created jobs should be lowered and he mentioned home improvements and maintenance and upgrading of restaurants as examples.

On the income tax bands revision, Mr Zarb said the union wanted to see a greater number of people falling into the non-taxable band so they could enjoy more purchasing power. However, when asked, the union said they had not worked out how much this proposal would cost the country.

With regard to the COLA, the GWU wants this to be given fully and to everyone. The union went one step further and asked for a pro-rata cost-of-living payment added to students’ stipends.

The union, Mr Zarb said, was also calling for a reduction in government induced costs, particularly for businesses.

He said the government should ensure that, for pension purposes, those currently working on a four-day week were considered to be working a full working week.

He said 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.

Mr Zarb also called for government action to reduce hospital waiting lists by utilising all the human resources at its disposal. He also called for a new mechanism to ensure that prices do not continue to increase.

Speaking about family-friendly measures and ways to increase female participation, Mr Zarb said the government should provide more childcare centres to enable more women to get a job.

With regard to the tourism industry, the GWU is calling for a national strategy, including incentives for hotels to improve their product, better marketing and incentives for Gozo.

Mr Zarb insisted the document agreed by all social partners, which was compiled by economist Gordon Cordina, should be discussed before the budget.