The Government has launched a public consultation process and a new website for the simplification and reduction of bureaucracy of governmental entities.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, Parliamentary Secretary for the Simplification of Administrative Processes Michael Farrugia said that the Government was working hard to fulfil its pre-election pledge of decreasing bureaucracy by 25 per cent.

The new website, www.simplification.gov.mt , was launched under the motto “Simpler is Better.”

Michael Falzon, who has been appointed Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of Bureaucracy, will be responsible for examining bureaucratic processes.

Dr Farrugia urged the public, members of the business community and government employees to contribute by identifying instances of excess bureaucracy and making suggestions on how they can be reduced.

The public can call on freephone 153 or email: simplification.citizen@gov.mt (general public), simplification.business@gov.mt (members of the business community) and simplification.administration@gov.mt (Government employees).

Permanent secretary Mario Cutajar said the Government will be looking into internal structures which need to be altered to bring about the desired change.

These are mainly the processes themselves and the mindsets of the Government employees, who need to be more focused on their clients rather than the processes.

“Systems are for people and not the other way round”.

He also announced that the Government is currently working on the pensions system so that from next year, elderly people will no longer need to apply for their own pension upon reaching pensionable age.