The GWU clarified its position on the minimum wage today in the wake of controversy which mushroomed from comments by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
The union had called for a revision of the minimum wage in the pre-budget document, but Labour leader Joseph Muscat said the priority should be to first bring about economic growth and to reduce burdens such as the power tariffs. He also said yesterday that statutory cost of living increases would stay.
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In a statement today, the union said a government priority should be to take extraordinary measures in the social sector to raise the standard of living of those who were paid a minimum wage or less as well as those whose income did not exceed €22 above the minimum wage. Such measures were needed because the minimum wage no longer offered a decent standard of living.
The union said it was continuing to insist that water and electricity tariffs must come down since this would have a positive impact on families' income and on businesses. That would, in turn, enable employers to offer better pay and conditions.
The union said it wanted to make it clear that that it never proposed or agreed that there should not be cost of living increases.
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