Gozitan NGO, the Anti-Poverty Forum, has welcomed the Government’s efforts to encourage enterprises and businesses to reduce the prices of daily basic necessities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Forum said it is an action which has been badly needed, and which will help those who are at the lower levels of the earning pyramid to be more able to afford the basic necessities for their families.

The Anti-Poverty Forum went on to say that it believes the country needs a system where prices of basic items are regularly monitored.

For such reason, the NGO said it “greatly encouraged an ongoing arrangement where discussions with providers take place regularly, thus ensuring continuous monitoring of support to those in need.”

APF reiterated that policies and schemes “should not put everyone in the same basket, since by doing so one would be treating unfairly those who are in a disadvantaged position. A clear example of this is the subsidised energy for all.”

It stressed that “well-off persons tend to consume more energy as they tend to live in larger houses and with more appliances at home. Hence, since energy is being subsidised for everyone, well-off people are being subsidised more than those who really need to be subsidised.”

APF added that”consequently, the available subsidies are not reaching those people who need them most. Schemes can be put in place where subsidies are means-tested, and therefore directed exclusively towards supporting low-income earners.”

“One hopes that a reduction of energy subsidies across the board would also contribute towards a cleaner environment, enticing a reduction in consumption among the larger population,” it said.

Anti-Poverty Forum – Malta is a platform organisation composed of 17 Maltese NGOs working in the Social Field in Malta.

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