Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the priority for this government remains the Maltese and Gozitan workers in particular those in the lower scale, and therefore that he has already announced that the wage supplement will be extended.
He said this will ensure that the worker has the money in his pocket while giving peace of mind to families and businesses.
Dr Abela said this in a meeting he had in the Auberge de Castille with the representatives of the GWU as part of a series of consultation meetings in preparation for the Budget for next year.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of balancing workers ‘rights with employers’ obligations. He said that in the budget for next year the government must continue to ensure workers’ rights but at the same time see to it that no additional burdens are created on employers.
Expressing his agreement with a mandatory monthly payment within a trade union to protect workers’ rights, he said it was important to keep it low.
GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja spoke about several proposals being put forward by the GWU for Budget 2021. He said the country has a big challenge ahead of him but said that with the wisdom of the government it has laid a solid foundation for finances. of the country, led to a necessary investment at a crucial moment in the control of the pandemic.
He added the resilience of the Maltese economy at the moment and said that it is able to recover quickly as recognized by the European Commission and credit agencies. He said health should remain a priority but stressed the need for a balance between health and the economy.
Among the proposals put forward by the GWU for the budget are the extension of the wage supplement, a strong legislative framework for remote working and teleworking, a mandatory monthly trade union and the establishment of a fund to meet challenges. such as those of the pandemic.
He concluded that once we emerge from this pandemic, our country will resume the path of economic growth to re-experience the quality of life we have lived in recent years.
Also present at the meeting were Ministers Edward Scicluna, Silvio Schembri and Carmelo Abela.
