Measures to ensure the sustainability of the health and social services had to be taken as the population was getting older and the birth rate lower.

Social Development Minister John Dalli told a General Workers’ Union conference on Sustainable Social Services that according to the 2009 budget, social and health services would cost the county €1.25 billion, a third of the total budget.

The minister said that whereas there were currently four workers for every pensioner, there would soon be two. This meant that to sustain what the country had now it had to double the taxes unless other measures were taken.

Mr Dalli said that female participation in employment in Malta stood at 37 per cent - 20 per cent lower than the European average. He described as a waste of human resources the fact that the average retirement age in Malta was 58.

The minister spoke on the need to strengthen community care which was cheaper than providing space in homes for the elderly since people were living longer.

He said that while the local birth rate was 1.3 per family, it should ideally be increased to 2.2 to sustain the services provided at the moment. The government, workers and employers had to be flexible because while the number of people aged 16 to 65 was going down, that over 65 was growing rapidly.

The Labour Party’s spokesman for Social Development, Michael Farrugia, said that abuse eliminated sustainability.

He said he was prepared to support the government and the Social Services Department to curb abuse.

He referred to the invalidity pension, pointing out that applicants were being sent to be tested by a doctor who did not examine them, They were later informed that their application was declined. These people should be told why and should have the right to appeal the decision.

The government had to ensure that people who received social benefits lived a decent life because with the increase in the cost of living, many were moving closer to the poverty line, he said.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said that more workers were needed for sustainability.

He said that five years ago, when rate of VAT was increased, the government had said that the increase would go towards a health fund to ensure the sustainability of the health system. This never happened.

Social services, he said, were not charity, but the people’s right.