The GRTU has called on the governemnt to extend its stimulus package to small and medium sized enterprises so that they too could weather the storm of the current economic crisis and recover quickly.

"Given the current world economic situation an the impact this has had on the Maltese economy, the Minister of Finance will be wise to introduce a Budget which is bolder, much bolder than the one activated in 2009," Director-General Vince Farrugia told a press conference today.

"In 2010 the Maltese economy will have to meet not only the repercussions of what occurred in 2009, but it must be able to grow," Mr Farrugia said.

The government's targeted assistance to major industries had been beneficial, he said, but the stimulus package needed to be broader in its focus.

"Budget 2010 must aim at the curtailment of all unnecessary public expenditure and focus more diligently than ever on financing productive investment and sustaining viable public expenditure," he added.

He said no recurrent expenditure should be considered as sacred and untouchable. Tough times demanded tough decisions. This was also not the time for political bickering.

Mr Farrugia said he agreed that the workers should be given the €6.06 cost of living adjustment calculated in the COLA mechanism, but he also agreed with the Malta Employers' Association that employers must not be made to shoulder all of that cost for their employees.

The GRTU, among other Budget proposals, insisted that the government needed to check the charges imposed by the banks on commercial activities. It also called for the removal of the tax on credit cards, which had been introduced as a temporary measure until VAT was introduced.

It also called for prompt payment by the government to its suppliers and proposed grants to households to enable them to improve their premises to lodge foreign language students.

Mr Farrugia said the GRTU was calling on the government to repeal the registration tax on passenger coaches and waste trucks in order to reduce costs and encourage the importation of new, cleaner vehicles.