Social partners give Budget guarded, mostly positive reaction
The Budget 2010 received a guarded but positive welcome by the social partnersthis evening, although employers voiced concern over the impact of the cost of living adjustment (COLA).
Joe Farrugia, Director-General of the Malta Employers' Association said the Budget was generally "positive and creative" and the main problem in the exercise was the COLA.
GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said this was a moderate Budget. He welcomed the incentives given to industry and the fact that COLA had been given in full, but said the GWU was disappointed that the tax bands were not widened. He hoped that what was achieved would not be nullified by the new water and electricity tariffs.
Helga Ellul, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the government had, through the Budget, given encouraging signs to the economy. She welcomed the provisions on micro-financing, assistance to SMEs and the increased investment in job training schemes by the ETC, but admitted that COLA was a worrying factor as there were no mitigating effects said as flexibility. She also welcomed the fact that the tax departments would be working together and hoped that government refunds would be quicker.
MHRA President George Micallef said the Budget was positive with regard to investment in tourism and embellishment of Malta, particularly the investment in roads. He too expressed concern over COLA, noting that tourism was a labour intensive industry.
UHM General Secretary Gejtu Vella said this was a Budget of solidarity and economic stimulus which upheld stability, job creation, fiscal morality, inflation control, investment in education and health.
GRTU Director-General Vince Farrugia praised the government for the assistance being given to SMEs and the self-employed. He said the GRTU also wlecomed the investment being made in worker training.
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Mary Ann Borg
Nov 11th 2009, 12:53
Well done Tonio and PN in government. These kind of budgets with such a huge sense of realism and courage are what keep PN winning one election after the other. The new progressive PL really ended up 'jitkellmu wahedhom' so much so that dear Joseph ended up the lone moaner after the budget. A real case of 'PN gab il-Labour jitkellmu wahedhom' cause dear Joseph gave a 5-minute press conferene and didn't even have the courage to take questions from the press. Now what has really changed since the good ol' days of Alfred Sant? Except that he brought back the diehards that operated in Mintoff's days and were discarded by AS.
N.Calleja
Nov 11th 2009, 12:48
@ Gerard Cassar.
'they just prepare a statement and read it'
Are you refering to Joseph Muscat...because he was the only one I saw reading from prepared notes he wrote before even hearing the Budget speech. Is this the new way of doing politics? Hallina!
Muscat Pat
Nov 11th 2009, 09:04
The PN is fast becoming the Party of euphemisms"-finanzi fis-sod, PL is doom and gloom, krizi internazjonali, investimenti, realta internazzjonali, tariffi, adgustamenti" and so on-. These are designed, as George Orwell put it, to make "murder respectable", or at least to camouflage misrule, economic failure, dishonesty or scandal. These euphemisms are used to minimise failure and justify inaction rather than to fix them. What is worse, they have become increasingly common, and insedious trope of political rhetoric. Just as "investiment" once meant using money in a worthwhile and profitable manner, now it has become an excuse for "hala" and spending recklessly. Otherwise how can one justify a deficit where only a mere 20 million Euros-(out of hundreds of millions of euros)-were used to protect jobs? Where did all the "remaining" money go; in Government consumption?
Insisting, that the PL is the problem and not you, is in part of a form of wishful thinking, a kind of self-delusion as well as deception, but it is perilous all the same. If the PN continues with this trend, it would contribute to add to a Maltese society in denial, but the nastiness and the mess we are in, will not go away.
George Cauchi
Nov 11th 2009, 08:40
PS...Victor Ross.....SPOT ON!
George Cauchi
Nov 11th 2009, 08:39
Typical PL attitude. Always picking on the negative. I dont know why people bother arguing or discuss issues with you guys, its a dead end argument. No goverment other then the PL can be good enough for you. So I say we sit back on the driving seat for another 3 - 4 years enjoying some decent leadership while you people stay looking for the small print to give you reason to point your fingers....pathetic !!
Joe Vella
Nov 10th 2009, 17:20
@ Joseph Buttigieg Attard & Lawrence Schembri
Unfortunately it is the Gloom and Doom crowd and the messengers of doomsday that seems that would never change in Malta. The Social Partners are hailed as Gods when they are critical of the Government but as a bunch of morons when they concur with any Government initiative.
It is about time that Joseph Muscat and the PL to have a good look into the mirror and wake up to the world's realities.
Perhaps the MCESD doesn't represent all workers in Malta; bur for certain it represent a cross section of the Maltese fabric that everyday have to face the world realities; unlike Joseph Muscat and the PL gloom and doom crowd that seems to be on cloud 9 on any given issue.
Agius Martin
Nov 10th 2009, 14:17
As far as I know many government agreements are inclusive of COLA are the wages going to be increased?
JOhn Azzopardi
Nov 10th 2009, 13:46
It is amazing how people's mentality never changes! Everyone wants a box of chocolates and a long-stemmed rose! It is the industry and commerce that must drive the economy, not government hand-outs!
Victor Ross
Nov 10th 2009, 13:33
@ Colin Camilleri
I couldn't expect a smart and positive comment from someone who can't even spell "pudding"
lina mangion
Nov 10th 2009, 13:22
What about the removal of the tv licence, promised in last year's budget?
A promise which never materialised
laurence schembri
Nov 10th 2009, 12:45
COLA. Dear Mr. Tony Zarb COLA is not an incentive, it is paid by the employer and eventually by each and every family, wait a while and you will notice another explosion in prices.
ST Electronics will be forking out close to a extra €1,000,000 a year in wages, exports will suffer, if such an event will happen redundancies will be in the offing for sure, If COLA was an incentive, then is should be paid by the state and not the employer. False economy.
Lawrence Attard
Nov 10th 2009, 12:27
For those of you who are saying that all social partners agreed with the budget, please note:
The MCESD does not represent all workers. Shamefully enough in our democracy we are excluding the FORUM group of unions, a confederation made up of more than 11,000 workers/professionals. FORUM were brave enough during these last years and expressed clearly the difficulties workers and professionals are experiencing in Malta.
When i hear the GRTU, UHM and CMTU leaders talk, I get the impression they are following the PN's rhetoric.
I worry when I think that this democracy is hiding after simple tricks. How come UHM is the major union represented in the CMTU, and then it is again representing itself as UHM in the MCESD? How come then the FORUM, are left out from this 'social council'? Could it be that we leave out dissidents? is this the way forward in a democratic country?
mario gellel
Nov 10th 2009, 11:41
HO HO HO, CHRISTMAS IS COMMING. THE GOVT HAS ONLY PUT THE ICEING SUGAR ON SHOW. WAIT TILL JANUARY, WHEN THE KNIFE WILL START CUTTING THROUGH THE CAKE AND SHOW THE TRUE PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS MADE OF.
John Mifsud
Nov 10th 2009, 10:52
Don't you think that PL will ever come forward with praising something that PN will do! to praise something that they only managed to do 2 times in 20 years .. .(and how they did it !!!!)
Gerard Cassar
Nov 10th 2009, 10:47
Compare the statement of some social partners: chamber of commerce, retailers, UHM etc with their statement last year and resolve te equation with their statements in the courseof the year you will get a minus result. Thisis what will happen again in 2010
They just prepare a statement and publish it whatever it is proposed.
They wee against the COLA but now they are not against it.
An 18cents more would have facilitated the workings. It isfelt as if if the financial sectors of the Ministry are still working on the basisof the Malta Pound.They did not yet got used to the Euros. 5.82/2.34= LM2.50
Marcel Dingli
Nov 10th 2009, 10:33
@ anthony mizzi. Le hi, t tidwir tar rota hi tal mithna tar rih li qed iddur bl infieh taghna b nifsna maqtugh. Xi whud gia huma storduti u ilhom, jistghu jistordu izjed minn hekk ??
Joseph Buttigieg Attard
Nov 10th 2009, 10:25
Same deceitful message and far away from present realities! The crux of all is that we have to shoulder what is hidden and never said.
Most irresponsible budget as the PL Leader well said! We have heard same empty promises for the last 5 years and the projections in this budget will never be reached as they weren’t reached for the last 5 years.
Public deficit and public debt are going uphill at tax payers’ expense.
@ gaffarena joseph .. These people ( GonziPN + followers) will never change and apart from the usual bla bla bla they are oceans away from realities and truth.
@ all …Trusting these most deceitful team is suicidal.
Colin Camilleri
Nov 10th 2009, 10:19
The proof of the pooding is in its eating! The gonziPN government also promised paradise on earth before the elections and did not deliver. It is the same old story, boasting with the little we "might" get but leaving the hammer under the carpet.
It is not empty words that will lead us out of recession but Actions.
So lets wait and see what this government will deliver during 2010.
The PL has right to complain since this government has still to fulfill its pre election promises!
tony abela
Nov 10th 2009, 08:53
The least we expect is that all the positive things in the budget, such as infrastructure projects, embelishments, incentivies for stimulating the economy will actually comes into being during this coming year. My worries are that as every year happened under the inefficient Nationalist Government we will not be able to start and complete the tasks we promise during the Budget speech. The same as we have lots of funds due to us from EU and we were not able to get them approved never mind spend them.
G Cutajar
Nov 10th 2009, 08:51
@ all ...
Social Partners are persons representing every sector of the Maltese society .... most with a positive reaction .... only the LP and their puppies yell different ... of course ... dont know better! ... the rest wish the best for the country and it people, the PL and pups .... the best for the PL .....
ASpiteri
Nov 10th 2009, 08:22
these so-called social partners are simply a perfect example of how a bunch of puppets on a string work!
Mario Schembri
Nov 10th 2009, 08:20
Antoine Grima Re : Reduced boat licences!!!!!!!!!WOW.The rich get richer , If you check closely the table you will observe that major reductions are present in the '50hp and under category ' mostly owned by middle class , the other tariffs ( over 50hp ) remained almost the same or higher.
Mark Piscopo
Nov 10th 2009, 07:20
@ All Blogggers
The Government did not reduce last year increase in car licenses.The government decision to increase the water and electricity bill next January would be a drastic impact for everyone. In this Budget the TRICK that Dr Fenech made was that he did not mention what will be the drastic increase but mentions only the subsidiary that he will give us for the impact.MEPA tarrifs will rise drastically which will be a blow for first time buyers.The government did not remove VAT on restaurants. This irresponsible budget DOES NOT CAP UTILITY TARIFFS
and will INCREASE TAXATION REVENUE AGAIN.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Nov 10th 2009, 06:58
Tini sold u ntik sitta.
m. borg
Nov 10th 2009, 06:35
Would Vince Farrugia, Gejtu Vella, George Micallef and Helga Ellul have said otherwise.
Their party is in Dire Straights no need to continue to grinding it into the dust.
We have used to the gonziPN tatic, a lot of bla bla against the government then at budget time hail it as the saviour of our little island.
You people get a life.
gaffarena joseph
Nov 10th 2009, 05:55
A positive budget,that was welcomed by all unions.
It is a pity that the PL, as usual gave a negative view about this budget.
The PL, are still the same,I, thought they are changing,but sorry to say
they are still the same .
Stephen Borg Cardona
Nov 10th 2009, 01:03
Re COLA if Maltese businesses gave up their 100-150 % profit margins the cost of living would go down not up !
anthony mizzi
Nov 10th 2009, 00:27
if he predicts as good as he predicted in the last MEP election then i will priased god not to give us more of this kind of leaders.
@ ray vella ghoqod attent li mat -tmurx tistordi bit -tidwir tar -rota
R Scicluna
Nov 9th 2009, 23:48
Every social partner gave positive feedback...can't any of you read.... must be hard in opposition...
joseph cassar
Nov 9th 2009, 23:48
@antoine grima
jaqaw gej bid daghjsa ????
kif kollha l-istess twaqqaw kollox ghaz-zufjett. ?..... you might not own a boat, ....... but u surely going to get the govt. financial aid to compensate the eventual electricity tariffs, u're going to recieve the kola wage increase, u're going to stop paying the credit card annual fee, etc etc..... so please do not be sarcastic.
lets be proud that we have a responsable government... prosit tonio fenech
Charles Attard
Nov 9th 2009, 23:37
Well done Minister, Government and Social Partners. That's the way forward. The Nation's interest should always come first. Lots of excellent incentives that should bear fruit in the future. Employment is one of the key issues and it was fully addressed in this budget.
Antoine Grima
Nov 9th 2009, 23:29
Reduced boat licences!!!!!!!!!WOW.The rich get richer
ray vella
Nov 9th 2009, 22:37
budget li se jerga jdawwar ir rota.Prosit ministru!
Joseph Borg
Nov 9th 2009, 22:37
"GRTU Director-General Vince Farrugia praised the government..... "
Hahahaha... what else would one expect from a PN election candidate?
Muscat. Pat
Nov 9th 2009, 21:26
Last year's budget did not give birth to better standard of living; why should we believe that his year's budget will be different?