­The government should provide “shadow prices” for all services and utilities it provides even if customers do not actually have to pay the bill, Alternattiva Demokratika is suggesting as part of its Budget proposals.

Anyone who undergoes an operation at the state hospital should be shown the bill to understand how much the ‘free’ service is actually costing.

This would help the public gain a better understanding of the cost of waste collection, sewerage services, energy provision and groundwater extraction among other things. Presenting its Budget proposals yesterday, AD said property speculation should be taxed; utility tariffs should penalise wasteful practices and not basic consumption; a realistic assessment of the cost of living adjustment should be carried out and the methodology updated; and minimum wage should increase and extended to part-time and contractual workers.

In the social policy field, AD recommended making a stronger effort to open up the labour market to vulnerable groups such as women, people with a disability and immigrants. Family-friendly measures need to be stepped up and extended to workers in the private sector; fully paid maternity leave should be increased from 14 to 20 weeks with additional paternity leave of at least two weeks.

Pensions to current pensioners and the current disability pension should also be increased. The party also suggested increased investment for more Maltese participation in UN and EU peacekeeping, civil protection, natural disasters and humanitarian missions abroad.

Malta’s contribution to development aid fund should be increased and the building and upkeep of detention centres is not to be considered part of this aid.