Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Thursday that pensioners and people on social benefits are to receive financial assistance of €200, while workers and students will receive €100, to put a cash injection into the economy.
This, he said is apart from the tax refund cheque that had been announced. The Prime Minister argued that this increase is not only rewarding the zeal of the people, but is also an injection into the economy designed to continue to generate economic activity. The maximum tax refund will be €140 while the minimum will be €60, all this at an investment of €25 million.
The Prime Minister explained that families where they both work and earn the minimum wage, will receive €280 from the tax refund and €200 from the stimulus cheque – a total of €480. Two pensioners would receive € 400. This will be done through an investment of €45 million.
“In this way we will generate more activity in every sector at a time when the economy is growing and when the country will continue to open up and return to normal,” said Prime Minister Abela.
In response, The Nationalist Party spokesperson Peter Agius in a press conference stated that the salary of a Maltese worker has increased by only 4%. which does not even cover the cost of living that in December was 4.9% on food alone.
This is clear from the NSO Labour Force Survey which shows that in ten years, the worker’s income has increased by only €505 ie 4% comparing the years 2011 with 2021. The cost of living for December alone rose by 4.9%. This means that the salary of the Maltese worker is effectively stagnant, he said.
The PN Spokesperson argued that “wages in our country have fallen behind given the cost of living. One Labour Government budget after another has consistently failed to address the real burdens on workers.”
Agius stated that “now the PM wants to pay for it with a cheque for 100 euros, ie 8 euros a month when the price of food has skyrocketed. An election move with measures that for the most part have already been announced with great fanfare in the budget.”
File photo by Alain Salvary
3 Comments To "Pensioners to receive €200, workers and students €100 in government cheques"
#1 Comment By Nicholas On March 22, 2022 @ 4:48 pm
So why have we not got it, is it because we are English.
#2 Comment By Ray On March 23, 2022 @ 8:22 am
If you are legally registered here and have your ID/Residence card with correct address you should get it. Whether there is a link to being correctly registered with the tax authorities as well, which you should be. I am not sure, but the cheques of some people I know have been posted to their tax advisor if they have used one.
#3 Comment By Michael John Good On May 11, 2022 @ 8:23 am
We are both in out late 70 and have not received it yet