Updated: Minimum wage sparks off new row
Gonzi admits rise will affect tax
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi made his comments after a visit to the Foster Clark’s premises in San Gwann where he was accompanied by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday admitted that single people earning the minimum wage will end up paying tax on their gross income due to changes introduced in the Budget.
His comments differed from those he gave on Wednesday evening when he was asked about minimum wage earners by Labour media journalists during the press conference immediately after the Budget’s reading.
Asked by a Labour reporter whether he was aware that this Budget would cause minimum wage earners to be taxed, Dr Gonzi had said: “No, I do not know that those on minimum wage will be taxed, with income tax, if you are referring to income tax.
“To the contrary, the income tax, rate for those who earn minimum wage, will not be affected... zero.”
In a statement this afternoon, the Finance Ministry denied that Mr Fenech’s comments were different to what the Prime Minister had said.
The minister, the ministry said, confirmed what the Prime Minister said that the minimum wage was not taxable and it was only other income that was. This situation had not changed in the budget for 2013.
People on the minimum wage also enjoyed other benefits such as a higher children’s allowance and higher stipends for their children who were following educational courses or training.
Calculations by The Times yesterday confirmed the claim by Labour leader Joseph Muscat that single minimum wage earners will now enter the first taxable bracket of income due to this Budget’s cost-of-living adjustment in wages of €4.08 per week.
This measure raises the weekly pay of a minimum wage earner from €158 (€8,222 annually) to €162 (€8,433 annually).
When taking into consideration the Government bonuses given automatically during the year, single people who earn only the minimum wage will now end up forking out €60 in income tax annually.
When questioned by The Times yesterday, Dr Gonzi denied that this was an oversight, saying minimum wage earners were still zero rated if one excluded the bonuses.
“No, no... The facts are what they are. If you take the basic minimum wage, which is, by the way, the wage on which you calculate your pension, they are zero rated... They do not exceed the threshold for payment of tax.
“If you add the bonus, those who are single, unlike those who are married or parents, would end up paying tax. But that is if you count their other income (the statutory bonus),” he told The Times after a visit to the Foster Clark’s premises in San Ġwann.
Asked if this made sense in the spirit of a Budget that reduces income tax for those who earn up to €60,000, Dr Gonzi said it made sense when considering that in 2007, 2008 and 2009, tax thresholds were raised for people in low income brackets.
“You need to put everything into context... all the income tax benefits we’ve implemented in 2007, 2008 and 2009, which meant a big advantage for them.
“They have been enjoying this benefit for five years now so the benefit is multiplied by five,” he said.“What I find extremely strange is that having faced five years of criticism not having implemented our electoral pledge (to lower the top rate), once we start to implement it I get criticised just the same.
“Well, typical Labour politics in this island,” he added.
The Labour Party yesterday held a press conference to say it planned to reverse the situation where minimum wage earners on single computation were charged income tax.
MP Owen Bonnici and Labour candidate Edward Zammit Lewis pointed out that the minimum wage had now risen to €8,945, due to the cost of living increase and the statutory bonuses, exceeding the €8,500 non-taxable threshold.
Dr Bonnici said the Labour Party disagreed with this tax and it was therefore analysing the options to redress this issue, including the possibility of raising the threshold.
Still, the Finance Ministry issued a statement last night admonishing Labour for “repeating its mistake”. It insisted the minimum wage would not be taxed.
Without acknowledging the effect of statutory bonuses, the ministry said the minimum wage had increased to €8,433, and was still outside the taxable threshold.
“This shows that the argument of the Opposition leader, who said the minimum wage was being taxed, is incorrect,” the ministry said, adding that “other income” that exceeds this amount would be taxed like any other income.
114 Comments
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J. Debono
Dec 1st 2012, 14:48
Minimum wage earners contribute 60Euro via taxes.
Wow - that will decrease our deficit!!
And it is their bonus that is taxed, not their wage.
Ms Maria Vella
Dec 1st 2012, 07:26
Whilst it is annoying to see that single people don't get much benefit as most are family friendly measures I don't see why minimum age earners shouldn't contribute, what makes them so special? Perhaps they should have studied more and got better jobs
Charles Grixti
Dec 1st 2012, 17:13
Single people always get the short end of the stick. They do not burdern the system as much or the planet, work all their lives and their taxes go to those that create the world's problems with their voracious consumption and overrated and spoiled spawn.
Robert Agius
Dec 2nd 2012, 07:45
Had they done so, who would have built your house, how would you drive to work without, who would clean up the mess and rubbish on the streets by the supposedly educated? Such arrogance is only possible when you get others to do it, many foreign and illegal, to pay them peanuts. Then you get the same arrogant people complaining about these foreigners. The irony and hypocrisy of it all.
matthew tanti
Dec 1st 2012, 07:18
fuq kollox those on a minimum wage are those who most probably did not want to further their studies and get a better job. it is only fair that those who did benefit more, otherwise mediocrity would be rewarded.
Robert Agius
Dec 2nd 2012, 07:49
Oh really, so tell me, who exactly do let's say, many lawyers and magistrates, most politicians, people who inherited their parents wealth and jobs, and vast majority civil servants, merit a reward?
mark borg
Dec 2nd 2012, 10:02
qed tara kemm int nisrami....mela int taf xi storja jkollu kull persuna go hajtu ...min forsi trabba bla omm jew missier u ma kellux min jigwidah jew elf circustanza ohra ,ghalik kellhu l-istss cans go hajtu li jirnexxi bhal min kellu kollox favurih ? missek tisthi tikkumenta kumment insensitiv bhal dan ...mortx titqarben illum wkoll ??
matthew tanti
Dec 2nd 2012, 10:31
mark borg: what i did is none of your business. i said "probably" to cater for the exceptions - what i said applies to most cases
Dominic Chircop
Dec 3rd 2012, 09:03
Matthew Tanti,
Dan l-argument sibtu minn xi Summa Theologica ?? Bħal xejn ma tqisx ruħek bħala kattoliku ferventi ! Demokrazija Kristjana ta' taħt fuq !!!
Tatiana Heraghty
Nov 30th 2012, 20:41
Is it even possible to survive on minumum wage? Maybe if you have free accomodation, but what if not and you have to rent also? How do people live on such salary?
Thomas C. Cassar
Nov 30th 2012, 19:21
Mhux talli mhux se jzied il-minimum wage talli se jnaqqar minnha GonziPN. Basta tkazaw b'Muscat!!
Charles Muscat
Dec 1st 2012, 06:10
Mela e4.08 fil gimgha xinuma?
James Grech
Dec 1st 2012, 12:49
Actually its not E4.08 but E2.93 per week that minimum wage earners will be getting. Minister Fenech has already stated that they will have to fork out E60 from their income because this falls under a higher tax band.
Aristide Galea
Dec 2nd 2012, 13:41
Sur Muscat , dawk il €4.08 huma kumpens għall għoli tal-ħajja u mhux zieda fil-paga minima . Tant hu hekk , li dawn jittieħdu min kull ħaddiem ieħor , ikun fuq liema skala ta' salarju jkun . Tkunx ipokrita bħall-Prim Ministru u l-bella kumpanija u ammettu li f '25 sena QATT u nerġa ngħid QATT ma zidtu il-paga minima ħlief biz-zieda ta' l-għoli tal-ħajja .
Albert Farrugia
Nov 30th 2012, 18:15
From some of the comments here it seems that this is the first time a Budget was ever presented in Malta. Doesn't everyone know that excise duties increases announced in the Budget speech ALWAYS take effect the day after the speech?
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Nov 30th 2012, 18:37
Well you are correct. But this time it seems to be a different case and situation. This time there is a question? Will the Budget go through? and again what will happen if it does not when taxes are already in force as you said the next day of Budget presentation??????? That is my main question.
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Nov 30th 2012, 17:52
Have been told that cigarettes and fuel have gone up and already Selling and being charged at the new Taxed increases mentioned in the Budget. Is this correct? Is not the Budget effective from 1st January,2013. Moreover the Budget has not been approved yet. What will happen if not approved?
Josef Schembri
Nov 30th 2012, 17:49
so who ever is making a lot of money is paying less.... and the less you earn the more you pay :)
Ronnie Callus
Nov 30th 2012, 18:04
Exactly so Josef. Apart from this one has to keep in mind that a number who are making a lot of money from their profession do not declare the full amount and also VAT receipts are not given to the clients. At one time Dr.Gonzi had to do the bench marks for each profession but never materialised. The more they got the more they are given.Is this Social Justice with us taxpayers from our wage.
Oliver Grech
Nov 30th 2012, 17:11
People across Europe protest because their tax rates reached 50% and more and that their VAT rates are 21% whilst we protest for a Eur60 tax per annum (16c a day) which arose not because the tax rate increased, or because the tax bracket decreased but because the government gave Eur212 increase per annum. That is in Malta we protest because the government gave a net increase of Eur152. U ejja.
Robert Agius
Dec 2nd 2012, 07:55
Yes, as you said - They are protesting abroad, and rightly so. Now, amount aside, can you please enlighten me on how taxing the lowest earners and reducing the tax of high earners just? Or could it be a case, quite common on this hypocritical island, were - I'm OK(-ish), so screw you Jack...
Joseph Borg
Nov 30th 2012, 16:53
Taf x naf inghid li l-gvern naqqas it taxxi lil min ghandu pagi astronimiki u jumejn wara li thabbar il budget diga beda jibghat l-ittri bil qorti bies jithalsu it taxxi li qed jghid dovuti lilu. U dawn mhux ta sena l-ohra ta imma ta sena 2000, 20001,2002 u 2003. Tiflah jew ma tiflahx thallas ma jinterressahx jew thallas fiz zmien jumejn jew qorti. Ara veru ma baqalhomx kuxxjenza dawn in nies.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 30th 2012, 17:51
Joseph Borg: Din tista tkun mossa elettorali, halli meta tersaq aktar l-elezzjoni il-gvern jghati MAHFRA forsi jigbor ftot voti ohra ! Stennihom dawn il-kummiedji !!
matthew tanti
Nov 30th 2012, 15:59
get a life! people are actually dying of hunger and thirst and you are complaining about a miserable 60 euros!
Mr F J Brincat
Nov 30th 2012, 16:15
Well if these people are dying of hunger and thirst put your hands in your pocket and give them 60 Euros.
J Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 16:51
Thanks! It's a big joke...just EUR60 a YEAR (16 cents a day!)...for this you get free healthcare, free road lights, free security services (police, fire bregade etc), social benefits and more!
Oliver Grech
Nov 30th 2012, 17:08
@ J Caruana.
Well said indeed. Not to mention that they would get taxed Eur60 because this governement throughout this legislation has given them several increases in wage.
Doris Sarlo
Nov 30th 2012, 17:36
Matthew Tanti, you must be one of those people whose income tax has been reduced! Shame on this government that charges income tax to minimum wage earners! For workers on the minimum wage making ends meet is very difficult! It is not just a miserable 60 Euro as you disdainfully claim!
matthew tanti
Dec 1st 2012, 07:15
your comments are insult to those in real need.
Robert Agius
Dec 2nd 2012, 07:59
HAAHAHAHAHAAHA, Funny, people are dying of hunger and some people are earning up to 60K and getting a tax break. But in that case, you think there is nothing to complain about 'people are actually dying of hunger and thirst and you are complaining about a miserable 60 euros!'. You must have lost your brain somewhere.
J Martinelli
Nov 30th 2012, 15:56
Income, of any sort should be taxable. Someone presently receiving minimum wage enjoys the same social benefits (free health, education, etc), as someone in the 25% tax bracket or higher. The minimum wage earner pays proportionately less, naturally, but if this person does not want to pay the 60 euro PER YEAR, leaving him with some 200 euro in his pocket, then he should refuse the raise.
victor bonello
Nov 30th 2012, 16:28
the difference is that those earning the minimum wage are employed and so pay every cent, the problem are the professionals who all declare a basic income, many times far less then what they actually earn.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Nov 30th 2012, 16:29
Social benefits were created in Britain to cater for the poor. It is indeed strange to say that those who pay the least tax, or no tax at all, get equal benefits: the whole idea, in the first place, was to cater for them. I believe it is founded on the principle of solidarity, but that word is meaningless to-day.
Kevin Marks
Nov 30th 2012, 17:54
The argument is that Pl was demonised by PN apologists for proposed minimum wage freeze and Gonzipn reduced it!!Shame
R. Balzan
Nov 30th 2012, 18:07
Is that how they do things in Canada? Good to know.
Robert Agius
Dec 2nd 2012, 08:07
.How about a land reform then. Then I'm sure the minimum earners won't mind paying 60Euro. Naturally, the land belongs to everyone and could be a very useful capital and tool to generate income (taxable too). I wonder who won't be happy with such a proposal....
Eve Axiaq
Nov 30th 2012, 15:53
Ma nahsibx li ghax thallas mizerja ta 60 euro fis sena taxxa se taghmel xi differenza. Wara kollox min ghandu t-tfal zdiedulu childrens allowance.
Il-gvern jekk irid jigbor aktar taxxi b'mod gust ghandu jdur fuq is-self employed ghax dawn hafna minnhom minimum wage jiddikjaraw, ma jhallsux taxxa u jiehdu full childrens allowances.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Nov 30th 2012, 15:41
This is pure discrimination for whoever is single and earns a minimum wage....
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 15:32
Hekk sewwa mela se niehdu zieda tal-gholi tal-hajja ikkalkulata fuq tas-sena l-ohra. Bdiet tittiekel biz-zidiet tal-petrol, gass u tabakk u minnhom insteraqna 60 euro. X'jibqa - xejn. Jew titranga jew gonzi u fenech jitwarbu. Kaz bhal dan tisraq liz-zghir u tatih lil kbir ghad irrid nara. Tal-eu jafu b'dan u accettawh? Inkredibbli li lanqas gonzi ma emminx.
J Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 16:46
Int bis-serjeta? Imagina jien naqla minimum wage u niret amount ta flus...u ninvestihom u naqla imaxx fuqom. Habba l-imaxx nibda nhallas taxxa....allura ngerger? Veru ma nafux xigifieri frosta ahna l-Maltin. Mur gibna bhal Grecja, Spanja, Italja, Portugal etc etc?!!!!
Charles Caruana Carabez
Nov 30th 2012, 17:11
@ J. Caruana: Are you playing the fool or are you just foolish? It is the pittance which these people receive as a bonus which pushes them into the taxable bracket. It stands to reason that if one goes from rags to riches one has to pay tax, but no minimum-wage earner has suddenly become a rich man because he receives the bonus. Don't write if you don't grasp the issue!
pat muscat
Nov 30th 2012, 19:17
@J Caruana
Kollha mimmlijin flus l-bank dawk tal-mimimum wage! Din minn fejn gibtha; ghandhom xorti ilahqu mal-hajja! Kemm dmugh tal-kukkudrilli u billboards rajna u smajna f'Settembru fuq l-'friza' tal-minimum wage! Issa aghar ghax mhux interpretazzjonijiet biss imma fatti bit taxxi!
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Nov 30th 2012, 15:29
Forgive my chronic logolepsy, but... Both sides are probably right since one is saying "minimum wage" while the other is saying "minimum wage earner". Someone earning a minimum wage could have additional income.
Naturally, the PN will highlight what's positive. I expect Dr Muscat to highlight what's negative next week.
Bottom line... Net gain or net loss? Managed or mismanaged?
R. Balzan
Nov 30th 2012, 15:15
One laspus, two lapsus, three lapsus - off you go then.
J Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 15:12
oh 5 years ago I was on minimum wage and did not pay tax. Now I earn much more because I'm qualified and I pay a lot of tax. So should I complain? They are paying tax because they are earning more.....
Julian Borg
Nov 30th 2012, 15:08
If this is thd only criticism of the Budget it goes to price how spot on the PN was with this budget. The MLP are TOTALLY devoid of any ideas .... They are simply a marketing product like Millii Vanilli
Charles Caruana Carabez
Nov 30th 2012, 14:59
All Maltese wage earners have received an increase of Lm100 in old money per year, and such a small sum pushes the lowest paid to the the very edge of the first tax-paying bracket! The net is too fine, and catches fingerlings. You are catching puxpiex.
pat muscat
Nov 30th 2012, 14:49
An other gaffe by Dr Gonzi that has come just after the Brazilian Company' 'super investment' of 50 million euro!
Who is kidding whom?
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 15:14
@ pat muscat @ the minimum wage thanks to COLA and bonuses will increase from €8,222 to €8,945 an increase of €723 for which they will have to pay €60 in income tax, so all the single persons will still have gained €663. it's a win win situation. So if PL is in power will they put the minimum wage back to €8,222?
Paul Azzopardi
Nov 30th 2012, 14:41
Ive said this once and I'll say it again, those, many of us that do earn within the bracket of 14,000 to 19,000 that are single, and like myself also get to pay maintanance for my kids, beside no tax allowance we were paying 25% and will still remain paying 25%. If some joker comes to me talking abt the wow factor of 4 euros add on, I'm not impressed cause anyway it'll be takenon cost of living.
George Fenech
Nov 30th 2012, 16:39
Isn't it nice that you pay maintanance for your kids which increase every year after you being taxed on your income and the other part receiving them, who uses them as she pleases isn't taxed a penny on them? Let alone the children allowance and the water/electricity subsidiary?
Ms Maria Vella
Dec 1st 2012, 07:28
Why should you get an allowance just cos you are being responsible and paying towards the well being of your children? It is the least you can do!
Ronald Cauchi
Nov 30th 2012, 14:40
Dr Gonzi has been trying to square the circle for so long now that one finds it difficult to believe him even when he is obviously stating the obvious. One could say that his greatest achievement in the years as a prime Minister is to destroy any shred of credibility that he could ever have had.
Jesmond Chetcuti
Nov 30th 2012, 14:37
so according to our PM the minimum wage earners are not paying tax on their regular pay but on the bonuses, that ,have to be given by law....Mr PM...it is getting worse, a gaff after the other....I cant wait for the 10th of December speech ....how many more half truths will come out of his mouth...
B Attard
Nov 30th 2012, 14:36
Qarrieqi bhal dejjem. Kif jistgha jafdah il-poplu?. Illum l-ahhar tax-xahar tghid ha jerggha jghola l-fuel wara jumejn?
Aldo Chircop
Nov 30th 2012, 14:28
So some people are complaining after they got a gross wage increase of Euro 212.16, cos now they will have to pay some 60 Euro in income tax? Doesn't that still leave them with a net increase of 150 or so? And still they complain ...
Well, if they don't want to pay even that small amount of tax, they could always ask their employers not to give them the wage increase! Unbelievable...
VV Bartolo
Nov 30th 2012, 14:59
the cola is given to cover the daily increase of cost of living mr tanti and not to cover the €60 in income tax!!
Jesmond Chetcuti
Nov 30th 2012, 15:55
the cost of living increase is given to compensate for the COST OF LIVING , its not a pay rise, if you have to pay tax on part of it, it means that you haven't got enough to cover the increase in cost of living...to do things right the lower band of income tax should be no less then the minimum wage, and go up accordingly...
Robert Agius
Dec 2nd 2012, 08:11
The point is the ones who need the COLA MOST are the ones who get the least. It this is not a problem for you I seriously think you should have your head checked.
James Tyrrell
Nov 30th 2012, 14:26
GonziPN like its authority MEPA have always been there for the wealthy and came down hard on the less well off so why is this such a surprise?
Anthony Scicluna
Nov 30th 2012, 14:23
Rather than saying minimum wage earners now earn an additional 500 Euros a year, they say they are paying tax of 60 Euros in tax. Let's see, what do I prefer earning 0 and paying 0 tax or earning 500 Euros extra and paying 60 Euros? Very very difficult, Again Labour is confusing everything and everyone. No wonder Mintoff wanted 0 education so that MLP keep control over the masses.
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 15:01
Mr. Scicluna - 500 aktar qed tirreferi ghal gonzi jew? Guvni se jdahhal 500 euro jew 4.8euro fil-gimgha?
Anthony Scicluna
Nov 30th 2012, 16:33
Twanny, the exact figure is 700 Euros more per year. Are you too blinkered to see it?
Chris Coleiro
Nov 30th 2012, 17:15
Actually.. €4.08 x 52 weeks = €212.16
Victor Pulis
Nov 30th 2012, 14:03
I suppose it's the way you view a salary. is the bonus part of a salary? if yes then PL has a point if no then The PM is right.
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 15:05
Iva f'dak li huwa taxxi parti mis-salarju. Ghal gid tal-partit gonzi u fenech iridu jitwarbu. Budget suppost tal-elezzjoni ghamlu qassata. Ammetti bhali. Serqu lil fqir biex jaghtu lis-sinjur.
Marija Falzon
Nov 30th 2012, 13:56
zball wara zball wara zball......
Mr Albert Dimech
Nov 30th 2012, 13:46
Looks who's cutting the minimum wage earnings now? Yet another case of trying to fool people.
Brazil 0 + Netherlands 0 + Minimum wage 0 = 0.
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 14:44
Rather than saying minimum wage earners now earn an additional 500 Euros a year, they say they are paying tax of 60 Euros in tax. Let's see, what do I prefer earning 0 and paying 0 tax or earning 500 Euros extra and paying 60 Euros? Very very difficult, Again Labour is confusing everything and everyone. No wonder Mintoff wanted 0 education so that MLP keep control over the masses.
Joseph Borg
Nov 30th 2012, 14:58
Mr C Bartoli
it is you who is confusing people
minimum wage did not increase by Eur700 but only by Eur212.16 which is pretty easy to calculate
Eur4.08 x 52 weeks = Eur212.16.
the Eur8.9k figure you are quoting includes the bonuses while the Eur8.2k you are saying does not include bonuses. when comparing you have to compare like with like,, or is this also a concept you didn't know about?
matthew tanti
Nov 30th 2012, 13:46
so, you get EUR200 extra and fork out EUR60 - what's the problem with that?!
VV Bartolo
Nov 30th 2012, 14:57
the daily increase in the cost of living mr tanti!!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 30th 2012, 15:43
Matthew Tanti: The problem is that minimum wage earners are not even being allowed to keep all the cost-of-living increase . Something which never happened under Labour !
Anthony Scicluna
Nov 30th 2012, 16:33
@Eddy, sour grapes
Eddy Privitera
Nov 30th 2012, 17:33
Anthony Scicluna You will be eating those "sour grapes" in a few days time !
Ms Maria Vella
Nov 30th 2012, 13:45
As always single people suffer - we are constantly paying taxes for children's allowances, sport allowances for the kids, more family friendly measures etc - by all means support family initiatives but do not ignore the single people, they contribute just as much as the rest
W. Cassar
Nov 30th 2012, 13:40
A well done to the Times Of Malta for making the calculations and bringing it to light!
More of this type of investigative journalism please.
Thumbs Up!
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 13:36
Nghid sewwa li penzjonanti godda se jibdew ihallsu aktar income tax b'dan il-budget?
Marc Cassar
Nov 30th 2012, 13:31
Can anyone tell me if the Budget has been approved and is inforce yet?
If not, how come petrol is already up by 2c and cigarettes have also gone up? -
Does this mean that all other measures are in place with immediate effect?
Kenneth Williams
Nov 30th 2012, 13:28
Tvhemm and Dr Demarco please take note cos yesterday Dr Demarco denied the claim of Gino Cauchi that minimum wage became taxable!!! Put that ice cube bilboard on again!!!!
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 14:45
Rather than saying minimum wage earners now earn an additional 500 Euros a year, they say they are paying tax of 60 Euros in tax. Let's see, what do I prefer earning 0 and paying 0 tax or earning 500 Euros extra and paying 60 Euros? Very very difficult, Again Labour is confusing everything and everyone. No wonder Mintoff wanted 0 education so that MLP keep control over the masses.
Kevin Marks
Nov 30th 2012, 18:02
Dear 4.08 X 52 wks = 212.16 not 500 which is mainly already taken by gas and fuel increase who is confusing now? And yes mintoff wanted to take the masses out of Gonzi s uncle control
j brincat
Nov 30th 2012, 13:21
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday admitted that single people earning the minimum wage will end up paying tax on their gross income due to changes introduced in the Budget"
These gaffes are becoming the hallmark of GonziPN and this falls closely on the heels of Samba Pa Ti that multinational company that was supposed to have reallocated here!
Is it government fatigue?
(jb)
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 14:45
@j brincat the minimum wage thanks to COLA and bonuses will increase from €8,222 to €8,945 an increase of €723 for which they will have to pay €60 in income tax, so all the single persons will still have gained €663. it's a win win situation. So if PL is in power will they put the minimum wage back to €8,222?
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 13:18
the minimum wage thanks to COLA and bonuses will increase from €8,222 to €8,945 an increase of €723 for which they will have to pay €60 in income tax, so all the single persons will still have gained €663. it's a win win situation. So if PL is in power will they put the minimum wage back to €8,222?
anton cassar
Nov 30th 2012, 16:21
C Bartoli......qed tghid ic-cucati...paga minima saret minn Euro 8,222 ghal euro 8,434,zieda ta E 212....Euro 8,945 meta izzid l-Bonus maghha !!
Franco Abela
Nov 30th 2012, 13:10
"What I find extremely strange is that having faced five years of criticism not having implemented our electoral pledge (to lower the top rate), once we start to implement it I get criticised just the same."
That's because for every 1 thing right you do another one wrong!
Admit this was an oversight and correct it. There is nothing wrong in doing so.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 30th 2012, 13:07
But when tax-bands were raised, they were also raised for high income earners too ! This was another of Gonzi's frequent gaffes, which have become embarrassing to GonziPN !
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 13:04
Nahseb il-500 euro li ha gonzi u l-kumpanija qarsitom sewwa li riedu jhallsu bit-35% taxxa. Veru gonzi u fenech m'ghandhomx wicc. Taw zieda lis-sinjur u serqu lil fqir. Kisruh partit, jew irrangaw jew stennew telfa li malta qatt ma rat bhala. Lest gonzi u fenech jaghmel sitt xhur biss huma u l-familja jghixu fuq paga minima bhall poplu? Nisfidakom u nistenna risposta. Gennata inkredibbli.
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 14:46
bhalma ha mintoff il miljun ewro €1,000000 min halq uliedna minhabba il power station delimara
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 15:21
Kaz differenti siehbi. Wara kollox mhux il-pn tawomlu? Biex nurik it-tradiment mela tawh karozza u mitt haga ohra li hafna ma jafux. Ammetti bhali li din kienet qassata tat-tmexxija tal-partit li se jkollha konsegwenzi li jekk int nazzjonalist ser iggor ukoll. Ara tmurx tivvota ghal fenech ukoll!!!
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 16:12
@twanny borg imma xorta accethom + l-affarijiet l-ohra li qed isemmi int. Ma regax taghhom lura lil poplu malti? Allura mhux xorta seraqhom min halq uliedna?
twanny borg
Nov 30th 2012, 16:52
@c. bartoli - taghmilx bhal tal-pl fejn huwa hazin ghid hazin u taghmilx paraguni hziena. tnejn hziena ma jaghmlux wahda tajba. din kienet balbuljata u nammettuha siehbi.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Nov 30th 2012, 12:57
Biex naqas jaf din veru qijed fil-qamar. Hu w l-Ministru tal Finanzi mieghu!
George Calleja
Nov 30th 2012, 12:52
Why shouldn't they pay some tax if the surpass the tax band? We all do !!!!!!!!!
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Nov 30th 2012, 12:46
Bdejna nilaqu jekk Alla jrid.
J.C. Borg
Nov 30th 2012, 12:41
Is all this fuss about 66.60 Euro a year??? Once a Labour MP said on TV that minimum wage earners should be proud to contribute something for their country. What is he saying now???
S. Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 12:40
The same old story about the PM, he says something today and caught to be wrong tomorrow !!!
Chris Finch
Nov 30th 2012, 12:37
So either they were lying and they should resign, or they don't have a clue what they are doing and are incompetent and should resign. Either way, they should resign.
But it's ok. The high earners are paying less.
Joe Busuttil
Nov 30th 2012, 13:30
The young lady journalist was more up to date than Gonzipn. Shame.
John Lusignan
Nov 30th 2012, 14:06
Why all this jealousy toward high earners? Give me one good reason why a high earner should pay higher taxes? (Other than your jealous). What additional government services do high earners receive - none of course - to the contrary high earners usually don't make use of government services as they pay for private schooling, private healthcare & have the least government benefits. Robin Hood state!
joe muscat
Nov 30th 2012, 12:28
So this means that the PL was right , and as usual the PN tried to hide the truth
Jurgeb Gauci
Nov 30th 2012, 13:08
hide the truth? Anyone with some basic arithmetic knowledge could have worked it out.. So please do not make this out to be some hidden lie that has been uncovered.
D Borg
Nov 30th 2012, 12:20
Another Brazil.....
Mr F J Brincat
Nov 30th 2012, 11:49
What the PM should understand is that we are not complaining about the reduction of rates for the big boys that earn €60,000. We are complaining about the fact that those of us on minimum wage will start payng tax. Two different things - perhaps Dr Gonzi should sit down at the table of the common people once in a while (not during coffee mornings though...)
matthew tanti
Nov 30th 2012, 13:47
you are paying tax because you are earning more!
joseph saliba
Nov 30th 2012, 10:32
By how much is their take-home-pay to be increased? The PN in gov has created a 'masterpiece' the PL is concerned about the 'brushstrokes'.
James Fenech
Nov 30th 2012, 14:15
It is true, the take home pay of people on min wage increased, that is irrelevant to whether they pay tax or not.
But the fact remains that Gonzi can't admit that he made a mistake, even if on an irrelevant matter.
Since when does Government bonus mean "other income"?
steve loveridge
Nov 30th 2012, 10:19
Same as in the UK i think Malta needs a change of leadership, or as they say Give Labour a Chance,although there will not be much difference as they all talk with fork tongue, but one never knows, it could be your lucky change over and ours for that matter in the meantime Have a good weekend
R. Azzopardi
Nov 30th 2012, 13:33
What you are suggesting is a gamble, nothing more, nothing less. Rarely does one come out on top when gambling.
A Vella
Nov 30th 2012, 14:58
Steve your comparison doesn't hold.Malta has made huge economic progress in these last years,especially when one sees the competitive advantage gained on our closest competitors.True it may not be felt so much on the streets because the world was in a deep crisis and still is.But here even official statistics are questioned, leaving the electorate at the mercy of the political partys' PR machines
S Farrugia
Nov 30th 2012, 09:34
So what Gonzi and Fenech said after the budget speech was either a blatant lie, or they had no idea what they were talking about.
C. Bartoli
Nov 30th 2012, 14:47
@ S Farrugia the minimum wage thanks to COLA and bonuses will increase from €8,222 to €8,945 an increase of €723 for which they will have to pay €60 in income tax, so all the single persons will still have gained €663. it's a win win situation. So if PL is in power will they put the minimum wage back to €8,222?
Aristide Galea
Dec 2nd 2012, 14:33
Mr .C.Bartoli , Your comment couldn't be more stupid because with a simple rise in the tax band will solve the problem .
Please choose the reason of your report below: