Statistics published by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, show that while wages and salaries grew by an average 3.3 per cent in the EU, in Malta this grew by a meagre 0.3 per cent. Furthermore, other recent statistics issued by Eurostat show that we are one of the most taxed citizens in the EU. This clearly shows that our standard of living is going from bad to worse; in politics this can be compared to a U-turn!

The standard of living of other countries that joined the EU with us some three years ago is improving at a rapid pace. Latvia for example registered a staggering 31.6 per cent growth in wages and salaries. Obviously we do not expect to have such large increases as our wages and salaries are higher than those of Latvia. However, a meagre 0.3 per cent rise certainly does not compensate for the ever-rising cost of living, the hefty electricity surcharge and other taxes that have recently been imposed on us by the Gonzi administration.

A periodic analysis carried out by the IMF has shown that Malta is also fast losing its competitiveness. A few months ago some 700 jobs were lost in the manufacturing sector. Dr Smart and various other PN commentators came out crying and shedding crocodile tears for these workers, but at the same time they put the blame on the wages and salaries they enjoyed.

It is crystal clear to those who do not have their heads buried in the sand that Malta is fast losing its competitiveness not because of the salaries and wages enjoyed by workers but because of the government’s incompetence, corruption and inefficiency.

For years successive PN governments have squandered public money with projects never finished on time and within budget. No investment was made in alternative energy sources even though oil prices were rising steadily.

Also, this government seems bent on inventing bureaucracy by setting up Authorities that do not deliver, splash taxpayers money on lavish offices and worse still stifle exports and investment. The bottom line is that this government has become a hurdle for our country that impedes us from moving forward to catch up with the standard of living enjoyed by leading European countries.

Vote for a real change!

If this government is re-elected we will have more of the same – same old ministers, same old permanent secretaries, same old government appointees playing musical chairs and same old style of doing politics. Malta will simply continue to exist just as it has done for the last couple of years. If you would like our country to thrive, prosper and enjoy a better standard of living you should vote for a real change, a change in government! A Labour government.

Dr Farrugia is a Member of Parliament and the Malta Labour Party’s spokesman on Justice.

www.anglufarrugia.com