Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party has said that it hoped that the forthcoming budget will give due importance to the rights of elderly persons, pensioners and ageing persons. Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson, emphasised that elderly persons should receive adequate compensation for the increase in cost of living.

“Alternattiva Demokratika is also emphasising that the list of persons who have been waiting to receive refunds (tax, N.I. etc.) and other State payments for a long time should receive these as soon as possible, as this is resulting in unnecessary hardships, on vulnerable groups including elderly persons and low income earners. Government should introduce a compensatory budgetary item, coupled with necessary manpower to administer such payments.”

Michael Briguglio, spokesperson for Social and Economic Development, said, “Malta has the lowest EU employment rate as regards workers aged 55-64. Maltese sociological research has shown that ageing workers are prone to pessimism and feel disadvantaged in finding employment. Government should dedicate more resources in the investment of skills and experiences of such workers. Besides, retraining of ageing workers should improve workers’ skills and respect their dignity.”

Mr Briguglio added that Malta’s new pension system does not propose to solve problems regarding inequalities amongst pensioners, given that pensions are based on income received during one’s life course.

“Such a system is rigid and inflexible, resulting in further inequalities for people with non-traditional working patterns such as part-time workers, and also to former workers in certain sectors. Women, in particular find it difficult to balance contributory requirements with the competing demands of family life, childbearing and insecure, part-time work. AD believes in a more equal pension system, which can also have positive multiplier effects on the local economy due to increase spending power for pensioners from lower socio-economic strata.”

“On the other hand, AD agrees with Government’s decision to allow pensioners to keep working should they choose to do so. However, this should encourage initiative, rather than stifle it with bureaucratic hurdles. The fact that civil servants of pensionable age who work on a part-time basis are not taxed accordingly, but, rather as if they are full-time workers, is a case in point.”

Michael Briguglio added that persons entering pensionable age who are not home-owners can have problems coping with the cost of housing. “We welcome Government’s proposed housing scheme and augur that such persons will be eligible for state protection.”

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