Government willing to extend assistance to mitigate utility tariffs
The government is willing to consider extending the support it gives manufacturing industry to other commercial sectors that were or would be facing serious difficulties as a result of the utility tariff increases, the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise said.
It said in a statement that following the latest tariff revision last December, the chamber had been engaged in intensive discussions with the government with a view to agreeing on solutions that would mitigate the negative impact on the competitiveness and viability of its members.
The discussions included several meetings with Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, the Malta Resources Authority and Malta Enterprise, besides the chamber’s representations at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
President Helga Ellul told members that the chamber agreed that such assistance would be channelled through the existing task force mechanism, in line with the existing framework that was successful since it was set up early last year.
It was also agreed that all assistance would be granted subject to the necessary evaluation process as had been the case with the manufacturing industry in 2009.
The chamber said this was an important development which would continue to help protect jobs, investment and future growth.
The chamber said it would continue to engage with the authorities on a technical and administrative level for the implementation of other mitigating measures, including the extension of the night-tariffs scheme.
It urged the government to open a structured and holistic dialogue on the sustainability of energy generation in Malta. The competitiveness of the business community had to be safeguarded if the private sector was to continue contributing to Malta’s prosperity by investing and creating more jobs, the chamber said.
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g.c.Forte
Mar 10th 2010, 07:18
@ N.Farrugia.............Your argument is irrelevant, because to demonstrate it is like having a tremor , while those people that are hit suffers. Others will benefits, by earning money from building the place again and from stealing. I hope that you understood me.....
E Compagno
Mar 10th 2010, 06:28
Someone should tell the people making these decisions that unless the common worker has stronger spending power, it's no big surprise that businesses will not flourish.
Taking MORE from the tax payer to keep business afloat is akin to stealing, and all it does is bury the tax payer even deeper.
Is this really the solution?
Maybe a law should be drafted where as large businesses, instead of being subsidised on their consumption, should be generating some of their own electricity with solar or photo voltaic panels or wind turbines on their roofs by so and so date.
Make yourselves viable and stop expecting the worker's taxes to do it for you!
joe camenzuli
Mar 9th 2010, 21:01
Can someone explain to us lesser beings.... why subsidise the industry or hotels (which involves using tax payers money). When its cheaper to reduce their amount paid in tax or utility bills by these employers. The government must be made aware that some of us lesser beings are still waiting for the tax rebates for tax paid on time last June 2009.
N.Lawrence
Mar 9th 2010, 18:56
So the big business get another subsidy. One also has to remember that their utility bills are tax deductible. Us lesser mortals do not enjoy that privilege.
Anthony Pace
Mar 9th 2010, 18:21
What about simple residents especially young couples/and those having children who besides bearing a burden of a home loan have also to bear burdens such as the exagerated utility tariffs that have been introduced.
Do not these too require assistance?
C. Sapiano
Mar 9th 2010, 18:02
@ mario gellel
the so called 'sinjuri' are hard working people who produce jobs for the working class. Learn a bit of economics please.
Paul Borg
Mar 9th 2010, 18:00
And again the SME's are trampled on. I wonder what concrete results has the GRTU achieved. Any statements from PN eu Candidate Vince Farrugia and colleague Philip Fenech? Of course not, it's all talk and no results.
C.ZARB
Mar 9th 2010, 17:51
Is it ironic that the same capitalists who complain whenever the government/EU give workers new rights are the first to go for subsidies? These capitalist should think twice before criticizing ideas like extending maternity leave because in 20 years time those children will be needed to bail them out (through the money generated by the taxes they pay) whenever a new crisis looms at our horizon.
C.Spiteri
Mar 9th 2010, 17:43
@ Mario Gellel
So now it is thanks to the PL and GWU that the Goverment is tas-Sinjuri.
Ara you can never win in this country!!
d.attard
Mar 9th 2010, 17:42
Strange I say. How does this 'support' go about ensuring a level playing field in a market economy? Have we now become pseudo-communist with big daddy deciding who swims and who drowns?
laurence schembri
Mar 9th 2010, 17:22
@ J. Borg
It has become the norm, if any dosh is needed, ask the man in the street, or to put more crudely take from the workers pocket `kuxlenza socjali` my foot, robbing Peter to pay Paul more likely. Shame on this government.
JBorg
Mar 9th 2010, 16:57
And isn't this a form of subsidy? Who is paying for this assistance? Are consumers paying extra so as to safeguard jobs?
mario gellel
Mar 9th 2010, 16:37
JEKK M'HEMMX PROVA OHRA KEMM DAN HU GVERN TAS-SINJUR BISS, DIN HI THE TOP.
MELA MIN BL- SKUZA TA TELF TAL-IMPJIEGI JAGHMEL IL-MILJUNI NEJNUH U MIN MA GHANDUX BIEX JIEKOL HU U IL-FAMILJA, NAQTAWLU ID-DAWL. IL-BAMBIN BISS MA JAFX BIH DAL GVERN GHAX KIEKU KIEN JAGHMLU FLOK L-APPOSTLI.
M Cassar
Mar 9th 2010, 16:37
N.Farrugia it was after demonstrating and protesting that the government is now mitigating effects. Before than he was adamant in his decision to implement the tariffs. Another victory for PL, Unions and the people for putting pressure on the government to act. Well done to the government for finally acting, both parties and Malta as a whole. You cannot implement hardships without mitigating its short term and long term effects and tending to the solutions.
N.Farrugia
Mar 9th 2010, 16:19
This is the right way to a honourable solution to mitigate effects of tariffs hike. Not by insulting and demonstating against the government. Those unions who do not sit round a table to discuss should learn the lesson that demonstations lead to nowhere! They are only organised to please the opposition.