When, with a degree of justification, the government is making so much of the island’s economic success and when the Prime Minister keeps saying in his Sunday political messages that the best has yet to come, it is only reasonable to expect that all this raises expectations of new, favourable measures in the Budget for next year.

It may be rather too early for the government to start being a bit over-generous, as all governments are prone to be when general elections start getting close, but there are indications that Joseph Muscat’s administration may want to start, as from now, appeasing people in the wake of the sharp criticism levelled at it over a string of scandals that has considerably tarnished its image.

Top on the list of expectations is a reduction in the cost of energy, not just for industry and tourism but for the consumer too. Considering the level to which the price of oil has plunged on the international market, a cut in the energy tariffs will be a most belated measure.

There are, of course, other expectations, and the General Workers’ Union, like other unions and business organisations, has drawn up its own wish list.

Some of its proposals, such as one calling on the government to give cancer patients special leave and breaks on their mortgage payments, are interesting. But, surprisingly, it makes no pressure on the government to consider cutting the energy tariffs again. If this is a correct reading of its stand, the union – the government’s strongest and most reliable ally – would seem to be distancing itself from the general feeling in the country.

The feeling is that the government is taking the country for a ride when it argues it has been holding back from reducing the rates to ensure stability in prices. Hopefully, the people’s plea will be picked up by other trade unions and business organisations, though all the indications suggest the government may finally give in to pressure and announce another cut.

Besides the call for special treatment for cancer patients, which is a noble, practical and valid gesture, the GWU made two other proposals that are likely to figure prominently in the debate on the Budget for 2017: a call for the reinstatement of the full complement of public holidays and the grant of a subsidy to workers on the minimum wage.

Time-off compensation for public holidays falling on public holidays has been disallowed since 2005. The highly controversial decision had been made by a Lawrence Gonzi administration to help raise productivity in different and difficult economic times. It paid off but economic gurus shot down the idea and workers generally felt they were robbed of their public holiday entitlement. However, with the economy now doing so well, many feel, rightly or wrongly, the time is well overdue for the government to review the decision.

Needless to say, the idea does not go down well with employers and businessmen who, quite naturally, resist any direct or indirect rise in costs. They are, therefore, considering the matter closed, forcefully arguing that re-introducing the time-off compensation will affect productivity and competitiveness. Which is also the standard argument generally used against raising the national minimum wage.

The GWU was at first in favour of raising the minimum wage but it has now modified its stand and is calling on the government to grant a subsidy instead. The idea is to avoid pushing up wage rates up the scale.

Which way will the government go?

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