The Forum group of trade unions called for an increase in the minimum wage and urged Parliament to discuss the living wage concept.

In its proposals for Monday’s 2011 Budget, the Forum called on the government to put the people first. Although it was positive for the government to focus on measures intended to improve the GDP, the Budget should tackle social poverty and “realistic issues”, the group said.

The unions said they were expecting the upcoming Budget to offload the burden on several workers, families and pensioners and called on the government to give clear indications on whether the country was really recovering from the recession.

In a three-page document detailing proposals, the Forum called on the government to improve pensions and tackle school absenteeism. It mentioned the need to shift the family-friendly measures that existed in the public sector to the private sector. Maternity leave, it said, should be extended to 20 weeks and paternity leave should be at a minimum of two weeks.

Overtime should be taxed at a rate of 15 per cent for everybody and the top income tax rate should not exceed 25 per cent.

Touching on healthcare issues, the Forum called for more investment in Mount Carmel Hospital, proper management for out-of-stock medications, a reduction in waiting lists and the expansion of the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme.

Yachts, luxury cars and third residential homes should be subject to hefty tax increases, the Forum said. Television licences were an unjust form of tax because they breached freedom of information and expression.

The forum also proposed improvements in the legislation of occupational health and safety, saying improvement, enforcement and implementation of the legislation was central in the production of a healthier and more productive workforce.