The number of issues GRTU has with the government keeps growing, the chamber said in the latest issue of its newsletter newSTRING.

It says there is still no settlement over the long-standing issue with pharmacy owners, even though an agreement has been signed in black and white, giving owners double the amount of tax credit in respect of expenses needed for each pharmacy that joined the POYC. Now Minister Tonio Fenech denies this and is threatening to punish pharmacy owners through their licences.

“Minister Austin Gatt threatens VRT stations, Minister George Pullicino threatens gas distributors. Minister Tonio Fenech again withdraws from an agreement signed with petrol station owners. Parliamentary secretaries Jason Azzopardi and Mario De Marco threaten confectioneries. Minister Joe Cassar drags retailers of cigarettes to court for selling cigarettes from stock without pictorials. Minister George Pullicino dithers on waste-carriers claims. PS Jason Azzopardi promises heaven on earth with his Small Business Act.”

GRTU concludes: “Dr Gonzi’s government must decide: do self-employed and small business owners still matter for this government?”