Editorial
Dealing with the different types of poverty
Dealing with the issue of poverty is often complicated by the lack of proper definition of what we mean by poverty. Sociologists distinguish between the concepts of economic, human and social poverty that are distinct from each other but also closely linked.
The President, George Abela, expressed concern about social poverty when he stated: “Poverty exists in certain pockets of society and the Community Chest Fund deals with this reality every day.” He gave an example of social poverty when he referred to “prison inmates who ended up on the street without income or anywhere to go when they serve their sentence”.
The chairman of the Alliance of Pensioner Organisations, Albert J. Tabone, argues that many pensioners face poverty as a result of the inadequacy of their pensions. He explains the situation very succinctly: “While a retired person cannot expect to maintain exactly the quality of life s/he used to enjoy while economically active, neither should s/he end up merely existing.” This is the more familiar type of economic poverty.
Social poverty has been defined as “a lack or scarcity of the kind of social trust and connections that link individuals and enable freedom of movement up and down the socioeconomic and cultural ladder”. This condition inevitably leads to economic poverty. The message of the President should be interpreted in the sense that, while every effort is being made to help those who are socially poor, the ultimate solution is to provide these people with the social capital that will lift them out of social poverty.
Pensioners too can slide into social poverty after first experiencing economic poverty. There are many pensioners who, despite a respectable career, experience economic poverty on retirement when their pension proves not to be enough to afford them a reasonable quality of life. They often no longer have the social capital to remedy this situation and end up as another marginalised group in society.
There are other marginalised groups, including young unmarried mothers, separated persons, the long-term unemployed and those with special needs who live on their own with insufficient economic means and little social support. A caring society cannot just ignore these issues as tough they do not exist or, even worse, blame the victims of such poverty for engineering their own desperate situation.
The challenging task of addressing all forms of poverty falls on both society and the individuals that belong to it but also on the state that has the responsibility of creating the conditions that empowers people to move out of poverty. It is encouraging that the Malta Community Chest Fund is being supported more enthusiastically by the public, despite the difficult economic situation that we have been facing in the last few years. This goes against the experience of charities in some other countries that have seen contributions by the public fall as a result of the global recession.
At government level, decisions need to be taken expeditiously to reform social services and pensions. The aim should be triple: To seriously cut down on abuse; to provide more effective safety nets for those facing the risk of poverty, including pensioners and other disadvantaged groups like the long-term unemployed; and to help those who can be helped, to climb out of poverty by arming them with resources such as better skills and social connections.
The caring society that makes us a better nation can only be one that works to rid itself of all forms of poverty.
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A. Hili
Oct 3rd 2010, 10:06
During the last two decades we Maltese have been encouraged to hope for the best but not to think for the worst.
victor rodenas
Oct 3rd 2010, 08:15
When 45 yrs ago I started to work in a private company I realized that when I will retire my pension would be ZERO . Only Govt. employes had a pension....things changed.At that time one could rent a house very cheaply and start a family...things changed. Fuel,water and electricity bills were affordable....things changed.Still ,at that time there were very poor people ,beggars were a common sight.The recession and the collapse of the banks put the World in RETRO ,many people living on one pension surly must be having a hard time. It is not the first time that the World passed through a recession and survived,..in the meantime take care of your money,save for a rainy day.The trouble with people is that very often we live beyond our means,one has to look at the future ,living day by day can be very miserable.People find money to buy sigarettes ,beer and lotteries,they are at a loss where to find money to buy essentials ....food,medicines.Priorities come first otherwise one has to pay the conseguences.One has to be educated in the management of his money..otherwise...
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 2nd 2010, 16:42
Good editorial.
Poverty also exists in people who hate money. Subsituting money for love, is a big mistake.
J.Cassar
Oct 2nd 2010, 15:06
The debate on whether it is poverty that leads to a lack of skills and education, or lack of education that leads to poverty will rage on. Genuinely poor people have pressing priorities - most of them related to their survival. As such they often fail to concentrate on their and their childrens' education ans skills. The answer is to ensure that more people are given the opportunity to earn some money and take care of themselves and their families. Describing poor people as lazy show the lack of sensitivity of those who are only good at condemning others without trying to understand what the real cause of poverty is.
Louise Vella
Oct 2nd 2010, 12:13
You rightly say: "It is encouraging that the Malta Community Chest Fund is being supported more enthusiastically by the public". But the MCCF has a duty of transparency and accountability in return for the public's support. For example, the public would appreciate knowing, year by year since 2000, the identities of the NGOs supported by the MCCF and the amount of money each NGO received.
victor rodenas
Oct 2nd 2010, 11:48
It is a fact that the minimum wage is too low ,many of those registering for work reason thus....why should I work a 40 hrs. week to earn the minimum wage,...by doing nothing(or working undercover) I get my checque every week +other allowances,I get just a few euro less than the minimum wage.....only a fool will work 40 hrs.to get 15 euro more.That is how humans reason.
James Dimech
Oct 2nd 2010, 11:37
There is also a lot of poverty which ensues from laziness and from people who refuse to work themselves up a decent respectable life.. There is also a lot of poverty which ensues from people getting their priorities wrong and taking bad decisions all the time...
J. Mifsud
Oct 2nd 2010, 10:27
This editorial really hit the nail straight on, especially concerning current and soon-to-be pensioners.
A pensioner, mostly a couple whose wife decicated her life at home with the family, will have a financial shock when he retires, as his monthly wage will be reduced by half. One has to keep in mind that a worker's wage usually consists also of allowances and overtime.
We all know that it is impossible for a couple to live on one pension, therefore poverty is looming, especially for those pensioners who end their working career without getting some form of sum from their employer.
Something has to be done by our authorities. A worker has at least be compensated by a sum for his working career, as many are entitled to in the Western World.
What do the unions think, and what are they doing in this regard? Are they conscious that many workers who are nearing retiring age are dreading that day?
Action is needed, and now.
R.Gauci
Oct 2nd 2010, 14:32
"Something has to be done by our authorities. A worker has at least be compensated by a sum for his working career, as many are entitled to in the Western World".
You are right but the only action the authorities had taken so far and will take again ,will be to increase the age of retirement! As about the compensation by a sum of money for a worker's career well that forget it cause only politicians as the ex EU commissioners are entitled to it, such as the 11,000 euros a month Dr.Joe Borg and others are getting!!!
The problem will get worst by time especially for this generation couples which have to pay a house loan for most of their life making it very difficult for them to save some money for retirement or paying a kind of retirement plan!! At least for the present pensioners generation was easier to afford to put some money apart then nowadays where the working class is struggling to make both ends meet!! In fact I suggest to couples not to get involved in any contracts for house loan for more then 25 years as the future is bleak!