Michael Briguglio, chairman, Alternattiva Demokratika, – the Green Party, Sliema
Pension system reform
I refer to the letter ImprovingThe Basic Pension System by Albert Cilia-Vincenti, chairman, Alliance of Pensioners’ Organisations (August 30).
I wish to make it clear that Alternattiva Demokratika is in full agreement with having a system of portability of pensions from one EU country to another. Indeed, as Greens we believe that basic social rights of citizens should not be lost simply because one changes residence and we are surely not in favour of discrimination among pensioners. If anything, it is the Nationalist and Labour parliamentarians who are in favour of such discrimination when they voted for massive increases of their own pensions!
AD is also not to blame if successive Nationalist and Labour governments have used national insurance funds for costs having nothing to do with the specific purpose of national insurance.
Indeed, as I argued in my article on August 20, AD believes in a pensions system which is socially just, yet, which is financially sustainable.
Leaving the pensions system as it is will result in financial ruin and impoverished pensioners in the future. We will not resort to populist and irresponsible proposals just to sound good.
Unfortunately, money does not fall from the sky. But the state can reform the system in a way which is as socially just and rewarding as possible.
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Christopher Ripard
Sep 8th 2010, 23:07
This whole pensions crisis is a joke. Ok, so for maybe 1 generation, there will be 2 workers for every pensioner, after that, it starts evening out. Big deal!
Why not base pensions on true sustainability and give them to people who got 2 or 3 children into the world and therefore provided replacements/future workers? That way, those who didn't work (and raising children is hard work) for the future get a deservedly smaller pension, to offset the life of relative ease/luxury they had. After all, they lived for the present.
It's the old story of the ant and the cricket.
LOUIS FENECH
Sep 8th 2010, 19:05
I quite agree with most of this letter, although I must correct, or at least, remind Mr Briguglio and your esteemed readers that when the labour government lost the 1987 election, there was a fund especially for Social Services, including the pension scheme. This amounted, if I recall well, to LM70 million (163 MILLION EURO) which the PN in government sqandered without having the dignity to replenish it. And being a quarter of a century in office they should have realise this situation and done something which is now, it seems, is too late. They should'nt have waited for the EU to push them to this reform
One must also consider, in this pension reform, the pension of the parlamentarians, whose pension is revised, not unlike the rest of the tax-payers, everytime there is a revision/increase in their "remunerative pay". They also have more than one pension which is totally unfair and discriminatory. So "they" must realise the two weights two measures when implimenting this reform.
roger attard
Sep 8th 2010, 18:58
kienet sorpriza meta qrajt dak li ktibt li il-Partiti Politici uzaw flus tal-National Insurance ghal xi haga ohra.Tista jekk jogbok taghti xi ezempji ta' meta graw dawn l-affarijiet, jien ghamilt zmien nghix barra minn Malta u certi affarijiet ma nafhomx, Sa fejn naf jien il-Labour Party flus fill-kaxxa ta' Malta halla, w mhux ha flus minn tan-National Insurance. dwan iz-zmienijiet jista jkun ghax il-pajjiz dejn kbir ghandu illum.
John Attard
Sep 8th 2010, 12:14
A very well laid letter,which surely must reflect the intents of all those who seek better prospects towards their Pension ,both for now and in the future. Paragragh two highlights as to how discrimination is created ; WE ARE ALL EQUAL BUT SOME ; ( M.P'S): ARE MORE EQUAL THAN THE REST. The Alliance of Pensioners Organisations must keep drumming this unjust discrimination ,and especially now that the Budget is being drafted.
And other point af discrimination is the unjust treatment of Pensioners who are in possession of a Service Pension,and have had this Pension deducted from their Social Security Retirement Pension Of course this does not apply for M.P.s'.