Increasing the minimum wage by €80-a-month will not break the economy’s back, campaigners insist at the first stop of a round-Malta tour.

The campaigners, coming from 15 groups, including Church organisation Caritas, are calling for an annual increase in the minimum wage of 3.5 per cent for three years.

This would see the minimum wage increase by just over €800 annually at the end of the three-year period.

Campaigners gathered at Freedom Square in Valletta this morning at the start of what they are calling a Decent Wages Tour, to take their message to the masses.

Anti-poverty campaigner Charles Miceli said with a thriving economy, this was the right time to increase the minimum wage as happened in Germany.

With a thriving economy, this was the right time to increase the minimum wage as happened in Germany

Caritas director Leonid McKay noted that the campaign’s main target was not to eradicate poverty but to ensure a decent living for those at the lower rungs of the wage scale.

"The minimum wage should at least reflect the expenses for basic needs to ensure people can have a decent living," Mr McKay said, adding this was a responsible proposal.

Erica Schembri from Graffitti, a political pressure group, said the campaign disagreed with suggestions that the increase should be shouldered by the State or be given in the form of an allowance.

"This increase should be borne by the private companies making a profit and it should be reflected in the wage since allowances or other benefits are not taken into consideration when pensions are calculated," she said.

Ms Schembri said a higher minimum wage would also push up the wages of those just above the minimum but would have very little impact on the higher wage brackets.

The Decent Wages Tour is expected to visit various localities and street markets to get its message across to the people as pressure build up on the government to legislate on the matter.

Fr Vincent Magri from the Paulo Freire Institute said this measure should not be seen as charity. “What we are calling for is justice, which enables people to live in dignity.”

Click here for the campaign's website.

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