The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU “learnt its lesson” and will not be endorsing any political party ahead of the March election, according to director general Vince Farrugia.
He spoke at the unveiling of a manifesto the GRTU will be submitting to political parties ahead of the election.
In 2009, the GRTU had endorsed Mr Farrugia’s candidature with the Nationalist Party for the European Parliament election.
“The European Parliament election was a unique experience and the GRTU learnt its lesson,” Mr Farrugia said when asked whether the same will happen this time round.
He said the GRTU “could not and will not” endorse any party or candidate.
In its manifesto for the self-employed, the GRTU wants a commitment from political parties that income tax and VAT will not increase in the next legislature.
It is insisting that any decision to raise such taxes should only be made by a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Mr Farrugia said the GRTU wanted a commitment that the reduction in income tax to 25 per cent over three years, proposed in the last Budget, would be retained.
In a 19-page document that covers various aspects of interest to the self-employed and small businesses, the GRTU insisted it was against increasing the minimum wage over and above the cost-of-living adjustment.
Mr Farrugia said it was unacceptable that the political parties did not sit down, under the Speaker’s chairmanship, to agree on measures agreeable to both sides in the wake of a negative Budget vote.
“Some of the measures beneficial to small businesses will now have to be postponed until after May,” he said.
Mr Farrugia noted that access to finance from banks was a major issue for the self-employed. Banks were saddled with big loans issued to the construction industry and, as a result, they were more cautious when giving credit to small companies with little or no security, Mr Farrugia said.
He called for more competition in the energy sector. The GRTU wants the interconnector cable to Sicily to be licensed as a separate entity in competition with Enemalta. This would give consumers a choice from where to buy electricity, he added, noting that the distribution system should also be privatised.
The GRTU wants the creation of trade councils to identify skills shortages in various sectors and propose ways to overcome the problem.
Mr Farrugia said that, in many instances, families at risk of poverty suffered from low job skills that prevented the breadwinner from finding a job or receiving a decent income.
The manifesto covers various areas, including pensions, the rights of the self-employed, rent reform, crafts, farmers and fishermen.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com