On the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party highlighted the need to tackle the increased cost of living, particularly of staple items such as bread, milk, fruit and vegetables as well as the price of gas and electricity.

Richard Schranz, AD spokesperson for Consumer Rights and the Elderly, said, “Recent natural catastrophes, the crisis in North Africa and the Middle East and the increased global demand for food do not augur well as far as food prices go. As happens in all moments of crisis, it is the lowest income groups, those living below or slightly above the poverty line, including the elderly and the disabled that suffer the most. Therefore all actions should first and foremost be directed towards alleviating the suffering of those seriously affected. While AD is against any measure which encourages waste in the use of energy resources, it strongly recommends the raising of the minimum wage and the immediate review and readjustment of the out-dated COLA mechanism so that it can truly compensate for cost of living increases.”

“Government’s setting up of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority was a step in the right direction. Praise should go to the Customs Officers and officials from the Standards Authority who recently intercepted and seized a large haul of pesticides. There is however the need for the Inspectorate to be reinforced with additional staff to enable it to work more effectively. We should also be on our guard against the possible exploitation of the current food crisis by promoters of GMOs.”

With regard to the financial services sector, AD said it feels that Government’s regulatory authorities should introduce adequate measures to protect and educate those investors, especially elderly people, who might not be familiar enough with the risks involved, and who might be lured into investing their savings in dubious financial products and ending up in losing almost everything. AD said it also urges the Government to press for the reduction of Bank charges levied by Banks keeping in mind the windfall profits registered by them, year in year out.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson said, “Together with the European Greens, AD registers its disappointment with the recent vote in the first reading, by the European Parliament ‘s Consumer Affairs Committee (IMCO), on a proposal on new EU Consumer Rights rules (Schwab Report). This could diminish rather than strengthen consumer rights throughout the EU, as it risks being based on the lowest common denominator for consumer rights, thus adopting a minimalistic approach.”

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