The Times of Malta reported on February 4 that the Prime Minister stated that those who wanted to do away with the influx of foreign workers were also turning their back on economic growth and positive social measures like increased pensions.

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Pensioners’ organisations are very much hurt and concerned by this statement because, once again, pensioners are the scapegoats of the prevailing social and economic situation.

“Our aim is to spread the wealth” was another remark by the Prime Minister. Unfortunately, the problem is about the distribution of this wealth.

In Malta, during the last years, millionaires became billionaires, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

It is a fact that, in the last five years, pensioners got poorer and poorer as prices of goods, services, rent, health etc. went sky-high.

Another reality is that the wealth generated is not trickling down to these unfortunate citizens.

It is hoped that wealth is fairly distributed and reach vulnerable people.

According to Eurostat, one out of four pensioners in Malta is officially at risk of poverty in spite of the economic boom.

As representatives of thousands of pensioners, we are very much worried and feel aggravated by the Prime Minister’s comments where he referred to pensions as an example to justify the employment of foreigners in Malta. There again, pensioners are used as a ‘pawn’ to send messages to those stakeholders who are opposing the influx of foreign workers for their own sake and interests.

In the light of the above, pensioners’ organisations, on behalf of thousands of pensioners, are asking the Prime Minister to be transparent on the prevailing situation and declare that his example referring to pensions should never be considered as a threat to pensions and pensioners.