Category: Archive – 2006

The evasion of tax by the self-employed and owners of small businesses cannot be condoned by either GRTU or anyone else. GRTU members are trained to fulfill their fiscal duties correctly. GRTU members however, feel great pain to understand the government’s attitude towards notorious tax abusers as these people offer the most serious competition challenge to legitimate businesses represented by GRTU. But GRTU insists that schemes aimed at solving the tax evasion issue should never cause government to revert back to the old hated system of ‘ex-officio assessment’. Only a government that is tired of governing picks up again this dirty tool.

The evasion of tax by the self-employed and owners of small businesses cannot be condoned by either GRTU or anyone else. GRTU members are trained to fulfill their fiscal duties correctly. GRTU members however, feel great pain to understand the government’s attitude towards notorious tax abusers as these people offer the most serious competition challenge to legitimate businesses represented by GRTU. But GRTU insists that schemes aimed at solving the tax evasion issue should never cause government to revert back to the old hated system of ‘ex-officio assessment’. Only a government that is tired of governing picks up again this dirty tool.

The old Labour government used ex-officio assessments years ago and they have regretted it ever since. Dr. Fenech Adami when still leader of the Opposition promised GRTU that there will never be a Nationalist Government that will again revert to ex-officio assessments. When the Tax Compliance Unit was heralded, Dr. Fenech Adami as Prime Minister again assured GRTU that TCU will never, become an ex-officio assessor. Dr. Fenech Adami, as President of Malta has again confirmed to GRTU that he has never, and will not, change his mind on this matter.

GRTU contends that what TCU does today is to issue ex-officio assessments under other names. Every businessman and every politician and administrator know that ex-officio assessments represent a political suicide for any politician in Government who fools around with this most unjust form of tax collection. Ex-officio assessments lead to corruption, hatred and abuse. The pain, anguish and injustice loaded on the victims are never ever forgotten either by the victim, his family or his employees. The only people who rejoice are those who spitefully instigate government to use such schemes.

That is why Ministers today are so frightened to use the term ex-officio assessment and instead use all the terms and phrases for which TCU today is well known. But GRTU members are not fooled. What TCU is doing is propagating the ex-officio doctrine. The truth is that Government is once again resorting to ex-officio assessments and no form of euphemism convinces anyone that what is happening today is not a revival of the past.

GRTU will not fail to call a spade, a spade. Our warning to government is very clear: back off! The political responsibility for what TCU is doing is squarely on the shoulders of the Prime Minister and Leader of the PN. The self employed and small business owners are sending government a very clear warning.

Il-GRTU tinsab inkwetata bl-attitudni li ha l-Kabinet fir-rigward tad-Dual Pricing. Il-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji qed tippartecipa b’mod attiv u impenjattiv fil-process ta’ konsultazzjoni strutturati imhaddma minn National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC) u l-GRTU kienet tistenna li l-Kabinett tal-Ministri ma kellu qatt jaqbad u jiddeciedi fuq id-Dual Pricing u jinjora ghal kollox in-NECC. Huwa inutli li l-Gvern jifforma kumitat ta konsultazzjoni meta imbaghad jitlaq triq ghal rasu.

Il-GRTU tinsab inkwetata bl-attitudni li ha l-Kabinet fir-rigward tad-Dual Pricing. Il-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji qed tippartecipa b’mod attiv u impenjattiv fil-process ta’ konsultazzjoni strutturati imhaddma minn National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC) u l-GRTU kienet tistenna li l-Kabinett tal-Ministri ma kellu qatt jaqbad u jiddeciedi fuq id-Dual Pricing u jinjora ghal kollox in-NECC. Huwa inutli li l-Gvern jifforma kumitat ta konsultazzjoni meta imbaghad jitlaq triq ghal rasu.

Il-GRTU tqies li d-Dual Pricing minn Jannar 2007 hi decizjoni hazina u perikoloza ghal diversi ragunijiet

· Perjodi daqsekk twal ikollhom l-effett kuntrarju u l-konsumatur jibda ma jaghtix kasu. Dan ifisser li l-ezercizzju se johloq aktar konfuzjoni.

· Id-Dual Pricing minn Jannar 2007 ser ifisser ukoll li jista jkun li n-negozji ser jirduppjawlu l-ispejjez li jirrigwardjaw il-bidla dan minhabba li r-rata tal-kambju ghadha mhux fissa. Ghaldaqstant jekk ticcaqlaq ir-rata tal-kambju n-negozji jkollhom jergghu jibdlu l-prezzijiet bil-konsegwenza ta’ aktar spejjez li n-negozju ma jiflahx ghalihom.

· Id-Dual Pricing minn Jannar 2007 jfisser li iktar turisti ser jippretendu li jhallsu l-EURO. Dan johloq problema ta’ logistika ghall-hwienet u spejjez f’apparat gdid. Barra minn hekk il-hwienet ma jistghux jaccettaw il-EURO bis-central parity rate, minhabba li l-oneri tal-banek u minhabba ir-rati kummercjali tal-kambju. Dan ifisser li ser ikun hemm administrative charge li zgur ser taghmel hsara t-Turizmu ghax l-ispejjez bilfors iridu jingabru u mhux ibaghtihom tal-hanut. Barra minn hekk hemm ukoll issue ta’ VAT.

Dwar il-kwistjoni tad-Dual Pricing kif habbarha l-Gvern il-GRTU qed titlob li :

1. Minn Jannar 2007 ma jkunx hemm oneri bankari meta jigu depozitati l-EURO.

2. Ma jkunx hemm aktar rati kummercjali tal-kambju izda l-banek jaccettaw l-EURO bis-Central Parity Rate minghajr ebda oneru iehor.

3. Li s-Central Parity Rate ma tinbidilx. Dan ifisser li l-irrevocable fixed rate tkun dik tas-Central Parity Rate.

Il-GRTU f’isem is-sidien tal-hwienet u negozji ohra titlob li jekk ma jaghmilx dan il-gvern irid ikun lest jaghmel tajjeb ghall-ispejjez zejda u jrid igorr ir-responsabilita tar-riperkussjonijiet ser ikun hemm b’din id-decizzjoni zbaljata.

Prezzijiet

Il-GRTU tinsab ukoll inkwetata minhabba li diversi prezzijiet ser ikollhom jigu riveduti minhabba l-prezzijiet tad-dawl u ilma u minhabba decizjonijiet ohra tal-Gvern.

Il-Gvern ma jistax juza l-EURO bhala scapegoat ghad-decizzjonijiet zbaljati tieghu. Diga kienet cara li l-Gvern mhux ser jindirizza din l-issue minkejja d-diversi pariri li nghata mit-Task Forces fi hdan l-NECC. L-estenzjoni tad-Dual Pricing tfisser li l-Gvern ser jipprova jinheba wara l-EURO u ser jaghmel hsara lil Malta, l-istess hsara li saret mil-Gvernijiet u l-pulitici Taljani.

Euro Logo

Il-GRTU mhux ser taccetta ebda mizura li tista tkompli zzid il-kompetizzjoni ngusta. Il-GRTU temmen li l-Euro Logo ser tkompli zzid din il-kompetizzjoni ngusta.

Dual Pricing & Dual Display

Il-GRTU tippretendi li jekk il-Gvern irid kollaborazzjoni mill-aktar settur importanti f’dan il-process, irid jikkonsulta u jaghmilha facli ghal dawn is-setturi biex joperaw bla spejjez zejda. Il-Kabinet irid jiehu inkunsiderazzjoni c-cirkustanzi partikulari ta’ certi setturi ta’ negozji bhal ma huma l-grocers u l-jewelers.

Appell

Fl-ahharnett il-GRTU tappella lill-Kabinett tal-Ministri li jbiddel l-attitudni u jaghmel konsultazzjoni vera u mhux fittizja.
F’mumenti fejn it-turizmu u l-kummerc ghaddejin minn problemi kbar assolutament m’hemmx lok ghal decizjonijiet mghaggla li flok gid jaghmlu aktar hsara. Sfortunatament ghal darb’ohra qed naraw Kabinet ta’ Ministri li x’hin jigi biex jiddeciedi xi haga li tolqot lil hafna negozji jkun pront jiddeciedi bla kont tal-hsara li eluf ta’ hwienet ikollhom igorru. Din hi xi haga li qed iddejjaq lil GRTU bil-kbir.

For more information please call Mr Reuben Buttigieg on 79297389

GRTU’s arguments to the EU Commission in support of GRTU’s complaint against the Malta Government’s imposition of the Electricity and Water Surcharge were described by the Malta government as “fantasies on imaginary European regulations”.

GRTU’s arguments to the EU Commission in support of GRTU’s complaint against the Malta Government’s imposition of the Electricity and Water Surcharge were described by the Malta government as “fantasies on imaginary European regulations”.

This Malta Government view is directly opposite to the EU Commission’s view. The EU Commissioner Piebalgs informed GRTU that GRTU’s complaints are receiving the Commission’s fullest attention and that GRTU’s complaint has been registered us an Official Complaint against the Government of Malta. Commissioner Piebalgs states that the GRTU complaint “raises issues requiring a detailed investigation and that the government of Malta has been given one month within which to reply”.

In the meantime GRTU raised the issue of the highly discriminatory effect of the Electricity and Water Surcharge on Maltese Small Businesses at the UEAPME European SME Summit held in Austria on April 8th and 9th and UEAPME, the EU Federation of SME Organisation, is writing to the EU Commission is advising the Commission to take all necessary action to ensure that the government of Malta withdraws the surcharge and compensate Maltese SME’s for the damage they are suffering as a result of the Malta Government’s breach of the EU Electricity Directive.

Kull settur rapprezentat mill-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji, u fejn ix-xoghol jiddependi hafna fuq konsum gholi ta’ elettriku, jew ilma, jew it-tnejn, kollha qed jirraportaw li l-kontijiet tal-elettriku u ilma ma jifilhux ghalihom bil-piz kollu tas-soprataxxa. Il-bicca l-kbira ta’ dawn l-intraprizi diga mghaffgin bi spejjez kbar ohra imposti mill-burokrazija l-aktar it-Tax Compliance b’penalitajiet u interessi fuq il-hlasijiet li huma ghal kollox esagerati u fost l-ohrajn l-istess Enemalta li qed taghti biss 45 gurnata biex il-kontijiet jithallsu.

Kull settur rapprezentat mill-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji, u fejn ix-xoghol jiddependi hafna fuq konsum gholi ta’ elettriku, jew ilma, jew it-tnejn, kollha qed jirraportaw li l-kontijiet tal-elettriku u ilma ma jifilhux ghalihom bil-piz kollu tas-soprataxxa. Il-bicca l-kbira ta’ dawn l-intraprizi diga mghaffgin bi spejjez kbar ohra imposti mill-burokrazija l-aktar it-Tax Compliance b’penalitajiet u interessi fuq il-hlasijiet li huma ghal kollox esagerati u fost l-ohrajn l-istess Enemalta li qed taghti biss 45 gurnata biex il-kontijiet jithallsu.

Il-GRTU tappella biex il-gvern jieqaf milli jkun daqshekk insensittiv ghal wegghat li qed isofru minnhom hafna u hafna negozji zghar li ghalihom u ghall-impjegati taghhom in-negozju taghhom hu kollox. Il-gvern ma kkonvinca lil hadd bl-argumenti tieghu dwar is-soprataxxa fuq id-dawl u l-ilma. Il-fatti juru li din is-soprataxxa hi aktar htija tal-indecizjoni u n-nuqqas ta’ hila fix-xiri ta’ zjut mill-awtoritajiet koncernati milli htija tas-swieq internazzjonali.

Il-messagg li l-poplu ghadda fl-elezzjonijiet lokali ricenti jidher li waqa’ fuq widnejn torox. Ghalhekk issa jridu jkunu l-Korpi Kostitwiti u t-Trade Unions li jikkonvincu lil gvern jiccaqlaq f’isem dawk kollha li qed ibatu.

Ir-Regulatur Pubbliku li suppost jiddefendi l-interess tal-pubbliku u tal-intraprizi zghar daqs li kieku ma jezistiex. Il-GRTU hadet il-kaz quddiem il-Kummissjoni Eworpeja biex ikun assigurat li l-gvern Malti fuq din il-kwistjoni jimxi mad-Direttivi Ewropej, li l-GRTU ssostni li l-gvern qed jikser. Dan il-kaz ghadu jitkarkar waqt li l-poplu Malti jsofri. Jidher ghalhekk li f’nuqqas ta’ azzjoni korrettiva f’waqtha minn naha tal-gvern mhu ser jibqa’ xejn hlief it-triq tal-protesti popolari. Il-GRTU ghalhekk qed taghmilha cara u pubblika li jekk il-gvern jibqa’ ma jiccaqlaqx allura l-GRTU tibda program ta’ protesti pubblici.

Is-sala tal-Halland Hotel kienet ippakjata bil-Hairdressers ghal-Laqgha Generali li l-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji, sejhet ghalihom ilbierah.

Il-Hairdressers iltaqghu biex jiddiskutu pjan ta’ azzjoni li jizgura li l-Gvern jaghti widen tan-numru ta’ problemi li huma serji bizzejjed li qed jheddu l-futur tan-negozju taghhom.

Is-sala tal-Halland Hotel kienet ippakjata bil-Hairdressers ghal-Laqgha Generali li l-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji, sejhet ghalihom ilbierah.

Il-Hairdressers iltaqghu biex jiddiskutu pjan ta’ azzjoni li jizgura li l-Gvern jaghti widen tan-numru ta’ problemi li huma serji bizzejjed li qed jheddu l-futur tan-negozju taghhom.

L-aktar kwistjoni tahraq li ssemmiet fil-laqgha hi dik dwar it-Tax Compliance Unit. Il-bicca l-kbira tal-Hairdressers Saloons issa gew imgieghla jiffirmaw agreement mat-Tax Compliance Unit li jisfurzhom taht kwalunkwu cirkustanza, ihallsu ammont fiss ta’ flus kull xahar bil-quddiem ghal tlett snin. Dan biex jaghmel tajjeb ghal-hlas tal-VAT u l-Income Tax. Il-bicca l-kbira tal-hairdressers qalu li huma kellhom bil-fors jiffirmaw l-agreement li gie impost fuqhom mit-TCU ghaliex kienu mhedda b’investigazzjonijiet fit-tul, penaltijiet, imghax b’rati ta’ uzura u inkwiet iehor li jgennen lil kull min hu fin-negozju. Il-Hairdressers ghalhekk qeghdin ihallsu fix-xahar hlasijiet iebsin irrispettivament jekk il-bejgh hux qed jizdied u irrespettivament mill-ispejjez li dejjem jizdiedu. Il-GRTU assigurat lill-hairdressers li ser tara li dan l-abbuzz tal-awtortijiet jinqata’.

“Il-kwistjoni tat-Tax Compliance hi wahda li l-GRTU topponi”, sahaq id-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU, Vince Farrugia, li mexxa l-Laqgha, “ghaliex taqleb ta’ taht fuq il-ligijiet tat-taxxi ewlenin f’Malta, l-Income Tax u l-VAT. Il-ligijiet Maltin tat-taxxi m’humiex anti-business jekk dawn jitahadmu sewwa. Il-VAT tithallas meta il-bejgh isir u tingabar lura fuq dak li ma jinbieghx u ma jsirx hlas ta’ VAT jekk m’hemmx bejgh. L-istess l-Income Tax: it-taxxa tithallas jekk isiru il-profitti wara li jitnaqqsu l-ispejjez kollha. L-ebda sid ta’ intrapriza jew negozju m’hu obligat ihallas bil-fors bhallikieku t-taxxa kienet kera, jbiegh jew ma jbieghx, jaqla’ jew ma jaqlax. Is-sistema tat-Tax Compliance dawret ta’ taht fuq xi haga li hi flessibli ghal wahda rigida u fissa biex issa bl-ispejjez ewlenin tan-negozji kollha fissi, l-uniku haga flessibli hi l-paga tal-haddiema tal-azjenda. Hafna negozji ghalhekk qed ikunu kostretti li biex jibqghu jfendu jnaqqsu l-impjegati. Ghalhekk il-GRTU isosstni li t-Tax Compliance hi anti-business u anti-employment.”

Il-Kumitat il-gdid li ntaghzel fil-Laqgha tal-Hairdressers ser jiehu din il-kwistjoni bhala l-issue l-aktar importanti u l-GRTU ser tiftah negozjati mal-Ministeru tal-Finanzi biex ikun assigurat li s-sistema ta’ Tax Compliance titranga. F’isem il-hairdresser ser titlob li z-zidiet qawwija fl-ispejjez li l-Hairdressers qed isofru wara li giet introdotta Soprataxxa tal-elettriku ikunu mnaqqsa mir-rati li l-hairdressers qed ikunu mgeghla jhallsu bil-quddiem. Il-GRTU ukoll ser tizgura li l-impatt negattiv li l-istess Soprataxxa ikkawzat fost l-konsumaturi b’rizultat ta’ nuqqas ta’ xoghol ghal hairdressers saloon tkun ukoll riflessa fil-hlasijiet li l-hairdressers huma sfurzati li jaghmlu taht il-kuntratti li twikkew bihom mat-Tax Compliance.

Il-GRTU ser tara wkoll li titwaqqaf sistema serja ta’ licenzji tan-negozju tal-hairdresser biex tkun rikonoxxuta l-kwalitajiet tas-servizzi u ma tibqax is-sistema tal-lum li kulhadd jiftah bl-addocc bla imposizzjoni ta’ standards stabbiliti u bla kwalifika approvata. Il-GRTU ser tara li jinqatghu l-abbuzi ta’ dawk li jahdmu minn taht, li qed ikissru s-suq, iwaqqghu l-istandards u waqt li jevitaw taxxi u l-kundizzjonijiet tal-Health & Safety. Li qed jigri llum hu li l-abbuziv ifendi u min hu ta’ standard u licenzjat skond il-ligi ikun sfurzat mit-Tax Compliance biex jitlef u jbaghti. Vince Farrugia f’isem il-Kunsill tal-GRTU assigura lill-hairdressers li l-GRTU qed taghti importanza kbira lil din il-kwistjoni ghaliex issa huma hafna l-intraprizi f’diversi oqsma li huma mhedda u msallba bil-pizijiet esagerati li qed timponi fuqhom it-Tax Compliance Unit. Dan fi zmien meta l-gvern qed jghid li ser jaghti prijorita’ lit-tishih tan-negozji zghar ta’ pajjizna.

Il-GRTU ser tara wkoll li jinholqu skemi godda ta’ assistenza li jimmiraw biex il-livell ta’kwalita ta’ servizz fis-settur tal-hairdressing ikompli joghla biex ikun selvagwardjat l-ghixien tal-hairdressers professjonali.

The Government has once again failed to consult and discuss with GRTU. After all the promises that we were made and the frivolous statements stressing how important SMEs are to the economy, our input was once again over-ruled. Once again we are faced with arrogance and bulldozer tactics. This time the issues are the strategy being considered to meet the challenges set out by the EU packaging directive. This is in spite of the fact that this directive will effect the vast majority of SMEs as well as consumers at large.

The Government has once again failed to consult and discuss with GRTU. After all the promises that we were made and the frivolous statements stressing how important SMEs are to the economy, our input was once again over-ruled. Once again we are faced with arrogance and bulldozer tactics. This time the issues are the strategy being considered to meet the challenges set out by the EU packaging directive. This is in spite of the fact that this directive will effect the vast majority of SMEs as well as consumers at large.

GRTU is making it crystal clear that although we are and will remain environmentally conscious we will not accept any new impositions on SMEs that will cause yet more burdens.
Government is proposing to set up a countrywide mandatory deposit scheme which will at first cover beverage containers of every kind. This will include all glass, plastic or metal containers such as beer cans. The Government’s proposal is based around a 3 cents deposit that will be refundable by returning the container to a shop. GRTU objects strongly to the introduction of this scheme whether mandatory or voluntary. First of all we do not agree that certain types of packaging should be singled out and their collection tackled differently. Packaging should not be selected according to its original contents but according to the material its made of. The only discriminatory criteria that is allowed by the EU directive is if the container in question was originally used to contain hazardous substances. These obviously have to be handled in special ways.

Throughout the European Union beverage containers only constitute around 9% of all packaging. Admittedly this may be marginally higher in Malta due to our hot summers urging consumption of more beverages. Even if we were to collect 100% of all beverage containers we would still be very far off from collecting the 50% of all packaging materials as the directive sets out.

We are categorically against the mandatory deposit scheme being suggested by the Government. The argument that we already have a functioning deposit scheme does not hold much water. The existing scheme was designed at a time when a few local producers dominated the market. Consumers did not have the choice they have today. Furthermore, the present scheme includes bottles which are eventually destined to be refilled. This practice is soon to be outlawed by the EU as its considered wasteful. The process involved in cleaning and re-labelling the bottles before refilling them involves a energy consumption which offsets the benefits, this is what the EU says.

We feel that the government should not impose mandatory deposit schemes on the consumer to forcibly make them separate and return their garbage. Today they mention beverages containers. Tomorrow it will be all other container. The household will simply end up a depository of packaging as a 3-cent on each container adds up to too much money. GRTU believes that government is simply shedding its responsibilities on to the householder who is forced to comply as he/she has too much money caught up. The householder then carries his garbage to the shops. That’s government scheme. That is why we speak now. The system being proposed is hence bordering on the anti-social. It will hit low-income families hardest at a time when they are still reeling after the electricity bills shock (no pun intended). If the government has his way with this scheme consumers will not only have to keep and separate their beverage containers but also carry them and transport them to the deposit point. They will then have to queue up to get their money back. The sum of money involved will not be negligible either. For a family of 5 this may be as much as Lm8 per month or more so it simply cannot be ignored. And this is only on beverages. If other packaging is added later the consumer will be hit hard. And yes GRTU is interested in the consumers’ net disposable income.

GRTU main concern is the involvence of shops as garbage deposits. That is why we strongly object to the involvement of shops in any deposit scheme, mandatory or voluntary. In our small economy the voluntary will quickly become mandatory given the pressure of competition. Its bad enough that shops have had to bear this burden so far, many of them having to keep bottles and crates outside their shops only to be reprimanded by MEPA! We are united and determined not to allow this scheme to go ahead. We intend to rally our members to fight this all the way if necessary. We do not want shops to become rubbish dumps. It is unhygienic and already the existing scheme takes up expensive shop floor space, one can just imagine how much more will be required to include all types of beverage containers, not to mention the employee time involved. We also oppose even voluntary participation in deposit schemes because we know that even a voluntary scheme will become wide spread as shops compete for customers. Indeed we believe that this would even lead to an unfair advantage for large Super Markets over village grocers. We believe that shops are part of the community to serve it with products and services and not to become the local rubbish dump. We want to make it unequivocally clear that we are not in the business of garbage collection and disposal and do not want to be.

Euro Commerce’s position on this matter tallies with that of GRTU. Mandatory deposit schemes do not reduce rubbish generated and cause a lot of health risks and unnecessary burdens for the shop owner and the consumer. Their position is as clear as ours and this is why we fail to see how the government could possibly be considering such a scheme. Studies we have conducted clearly show that deposit schemes are expensive to run and maintain and do not offset the benefits. Clearly the end does not justify the means in this case. The experiences of Germany and Denmark who have both tried such schemes have not been envious either. They have been faced with the soaring costs involved in maintaining the system, costs which the consumer will have to bear. Government is being given bad advice and is hearing only one side of the story. We are in favour of kerb-side collection schemes. This is what the Maltese consumer has had so far and is most comfortable with. Numerous experiments have been conducted in the past and the scheme that was the most successful was always the kerb-side collection system. Favoured by consumers, kerb-side collection does not involve the shops and does not put any more financial burdens on our already financially strained consumers. The government should use fiscal incentives through ECO TAX refunds to promote investments in recycling plants. Garbage separation at source should be encouraged through educational campaigns. Already a percentage of separation is being done, albeit small. This is not due to any deposit scheme but through consumer education. Much more could be achieved if this campaign is taken more seriously and more investment is made in this regard. When Eco-Tax was introduced we told government clearly that they had made a very specific choice. They had decided to collect the money to compensate for waste management and were willing to refund it to those who shared the burden with them. We told them clearly: lean the retailers out of it. And government through the Prime Minister gave us that assurance. We will not have any turning back now. There is no need for it. Waste can be managed better without the nonsense of turning the retail shops into garbage deposits.

We also urge the government to consider Thermal incineration as a means to partially reach the targets set out by the directive. The directive clearly indicates that incineration with energy retrieval is an acceptable means. Energy which we could all use.

GRTU is ready and willing to participate in any effort to design a system that will not be anti-social and that will not burden SMEs. We firmly believe that a homogenous solution can be found that will not be unfair to any one sector in particular. GRTU also categorically states that if the government intends to continue in the direction being suggested we intend to rally our members and provoke stiff opposition.

F’laqgha ta’ diskussjoni dwar l-iskema gdida tal-gvern ghall-pensjonijiet li l-Kunsill tal-GRTU kellu fl-ufficini tal-GRTU mal-Ministru Dr Louis Galea u mal-Ministru Dolores Cristina, il-Kunsill tal-GRTU ghamilha cara li l-GRTU ma taqbilx li l-eta’ tal-irtirar ghandha tkun imposta b’ligi ghal 65 sena.

F’laqgha ta’ diskussjoni dwar l-iskema gdida tal-gvern ghall-pensjonijiet li l-Kunsill tal-GRTU kellu fl-ufficini tal-GRTU mal-Ministru Dr Louis Galea u mal-Ministru Dolores Cristina, il-Kunsill tal-GRTU ghamilha cara li l-GRTU ma taqbilx li l-eta’ tal-irtirar ghandha tkun imposta b’ligi ghal 65 sena.

Il-GRTU taqbel li l-gvern ghandu johloq incentivi biex min irid jibqa’ jahdem wara li jkun hallas 40 sena kontribuzzjonijiet socjali u wara li jkun ghalaq 61 sena ikun jista’ jaghmel hekk. Il-GRTU ipproponiet li dawn l-incentivi ghandu jgawdi minnhom kemm il-haddiem kif ukoll min ihaddmu u jridu talanqas ikunu ekwivalenti ghall-hlas tal-kontribuzzjoni socjali plus 10% biex jaghmel tajjeb ghal granet nieqsa l-aktar fuq mard u nuqqas ta’ produzzjoni ta’ nies ta’ eta’ kbira.

Il-GRTU izda tqies li jekk il-gvern jimponi b’ligi li s-sidien ma jkunux jistghu jwaqqfu mix-xoghol lil min ikun ghalaq 61 sena u hallas 40 sena kontribuzzjonijiet dan ikun ta’ dannu kbir ghal hafna intraprizi u negozji zghar u hafna min dawn ikollhom jaghlqu ghax fis-suq kompettiv tal-llum u ghada ma jkunux jistghu jfendu f’hafna oqsma fejn nies ta’ eta kbira ma jibqghux jifilhu ghax xoghol ta’ stress u sforz fiziku li jezistu f’hafna intraprizi zghar.

Barra minn dan il-GRTU issostni li hafna setturi tas-self employed u nies li jmexxu l-intraprizi u negozji taghhom stess, ihossu li mhux possibbli ghalihom li jibqghu jahdmu wara 61 sena eta’ u 40 sena kontribuzzjonijiet.

Il-GRTU ukoll infurmat lil Ministri li hija tqies li l-analizi ekonomika tal-gvern ghal 20 sena li gejjin hi pessimista wisq u bil-proposti tieghu dwar il-penzjonijiet il-gvern qed ikun negattiv izzejjed.

Il-figuri li habret l-MHRA juru bic-car li l-problemi li qed jiffaccja s-settur tat-turizmu qed jaccelleraw. Il-problemi huma serji u jmorru lil hinn minn dak li kapaci twettaq il-Malta Tourism Authority hi x’inhi l-istruttura manigerjali taghha.

Il-figuri li habret l-MHRA juru bic-car li l-problemi li qed jiffaccja s-settur tat-turizmu qed jaccelleraw. Il-problemi huma serji u jmorru lil hinn minn dak li kapaci twettaq il-Malta Tourism Authority hi x’inhi l-istruttura manigerjali taghha.

It-turizmu hu importanti mhux biss ghal dawk kollha involuti direttament, bhal l-Air Malta, il-hotels u s-servizzi ta’ vjaggar izda wkoll eluf ohra ta’ intraprizi u negozji mifruxa ma’ Malta u Ghawdex kollu li fuq skala nazzjonali tirraprezenthom il-GRTU.

Il-GRTU ilha ssostni li l-politika li miexi biha l-gvern dik li jirrestringi it-turizmu ghall-“capping” fittizju ta’ miljun u kwart sa miljun u nofs, ma taghmel l-ebda sens ekonomiku. Malta ghandha bzonn mijiet ta’ eluf ta’ turisti aktar milli qed jaslu bhalissa jekk il-gvern irid li l-livell ta’ impjiegi li jezistu f’Malta u Ghawdex illum jinzamm. Il-volum ta’ turisti li ghandna llum mhux bizzejjed u jekk ser ikompli jonqos il-futur ta’ hafna negozji u ta’ hafna impjiegi hu mhedded ghax is-sitwazzjoni qed tiggrava dejjem aktar. Din hi kwistjoni li l-gvern kollu jrid jiehu responsabbilta taghha.

Il-GRTU ssostni li Malta ma tista’ qatt tilhaq il-volum ta’ turisti kapaci li jsostni l-impjiegi kollha u johloq opportunitajiet godda jekk il-gvern ma jsolvix bla aktar telf ta’ zmien il-kwistjoni tal-low cost airlines. Il-GRTU inkwetata li tlifna diga s-sena li ghaddiet, ser nitilfu din is-sena u jekk il-gvern ikompli jkarkar ser nitilfu wkoll is-sena ta’ wara.

Il-GRTU issostni li aktar milli problema ta’ low cost airlines, ghal Malta din hi problema ta’ high cost airport. Il-hlas li l-kumpaniji tal-ajru huma mgeghla jhallsu biex igibu t-turisti f’Malta hu esagerat. Dan il-hlas gholi hu dovut ghall-pizijiet kbar li ghandhom l-awtoritajiet tal-ajruport. Il-gvern irid bilfors isib tart ta’ din il-problema biex ikunu ivvantagjati l-kumpaniji tal-ajru kollha, inkluzi l-Air Malta, li huma lesti jgibu aktar turisti lejn Malta jekk l-ajruport taghna jkun aktar kompetitiv. Din hi l-qofol tal-problema u mhux l-argumenti ta’ biza mill-kompetizzjoni huma b’riha qawwija ta’ protezzjonizmu.

Il-GRTU tappella lil gvern jiccaqlaq bis-serjeta. Malta tista’ tikkompeti ahjar u tiflah iggib ghexiren u mijiet ta’ eluf ta’ turisti ohra. Il-gvern mhux jaghmel kull sforz possibli biex dan isehh.