Of course, on a daily basis, people face a wide range of personal issues.  Some pussyfoot around their daily struggles; others nip in the bud their catch-22s.  Yet others are forced to face the consequences of arbitrary decisions taken by the authorities at various levels.   I leave the personal issues aside and look at national issues only. 

I consider the election for the vacant post of PN leader as one of these issues.  I have reason to believe that currently, the PL coterie are following the PN’s internal fray from a distance and are preparing to make a move once the new leader is elected and ushered to take centre stage to deliver his first address.   Electing a new party leader is certainly not an issue solely for the PN members; if anything, it is a nationwide business which directly or indirectly affects the well-being or otherwise of each and everyone one of us.   Albeit, only PN members, and rightly so, are eligible to cast their vote in favour of one of the contestants.  This should put more pressure on all the party members to conscientiously shoulder their responsibility when they cast their vote this Saturday.   

The other issue which will soon take precedence on the national agenda is the Budget for 2018.  This yearly event has been revolutionised over a long span a years.  Past MLP finance ministers prepared financial budgets and regarded the budget measures as a state secret prior to being presented in Parliament.  After the PN was returned to public office in 1987, social dialogue among the social partners was introduced. The ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality was gradually eradicated from the collective psyche when social partners referred to each other.  The common good was sought by most of the social partners, and on many occasions common sense prevailed.  Sectoral and parochial aspirations were suppressed to make way to the national and common good.   The healthy debate between the social partners at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development and other interested groups which preceded the Budget led to fruition on many instances.

Currently Prof Edward Scicluna, the finance minister and gentleman-in-charge, will, with his team, have to work out the figures and come up with fresh initiatives which should further promote economic growth while eliminating processes which stifle the business community.  In the meantime the minister has to distribute, in a just and fair manner, the created wealth while supporting the vulnerable groups with the required goods, services and financial aid as may be required to protect their dignity.  

To his advantage, Minister Scicluna has a vibrant and buoyant economy.  It has recently been announced that the Gross Domestic Product grew by 6.4% in real terms in the second quarter of 2017.  This is way ahead of the European average.

Similarly, but negatively affecting the purchasing power, Malta is by far way ahead when it comes to fuel prices.  For the last three months, owners of diesel vehicles, mostly used by businesses in Malta, have been paying more than the average European to replenish the vehicles. 

Immediately after the last general election, while the average EU diesel price started going down, in Malta diesel remained at €1.18 per litre which at some point was 2c higher than the European average.   This trend is further widening.   One must recall that, in 2013, Brent Crude Oil prices hovered around $113.74 per barrel and now, at $54.64 per barrel, are less than half that of 2013.

Keeping this in mind, I will highlight more indicators which should throw some light on the current socio economic situation.

Employment:   According to official figures published in early August 2017 by the National Statistics Office, in March 2017 the number of registered full-time workers increased by 5.3%, while part-time employment as a primary job increased by 4.2% when compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.                 

In terms of numbers, in March 2017, the persons in full-time employment were 187,334.  The number of part-timers who also held a full-time job amounted to 24,993, up by 9.4% when compared to March 2016.  Employed persons whose part-time job was their primary occupation totalled 34,768.

A cursory look at corresponding figures published by the NSO for March 2013 indicates that persons in part-time employment amounted to 55,522 persons, while the number of part-timers who also held a full-time job was 23,639.  Perhaps it is opportune for the social partners to look into these employment patterns.  Why are more workers opting to take secondary employment in addition to their full-time work?   Some may argue that employees opt for additional employment to spend on a holiday or perhaps save for a rainy day.  I beg to differ. I strongly believe that the reason for most of the thousands of workers who have both full-time and part-time employment is that they cannot make ends meet at the end of the month.  The quality of life of these workers is certainly not one which one should aspire for.        

The National Minimum Wage:   Some historical information should help to give a more descriptive picture of the minimum wage.  On 1 January 2013, the weekly minimum wage was set at €162.19 for whole-time employees.  Currently, the minimum wage is €169.76 for whole-time employees per week.

A wage increase of €7.57 was granted to make good for the erosion in wages of workers and their dependants from 2014 to today.  Although some may argue that the rate of inflation eased in 2016, this is only one of the many variables that should be considered. With the economy doing so well, one would expect the most needy receive a bigger slice of the national wealth.   Although disposable income has always been a knotty problem, this should not allow the needy to become needier.

Education, Health and the Environment:    These three sectors should undoubtedly receive the appropriate funding.  Education must ensure that our younger generation take all available opportunities and is equipped to meet future challenges. Health is equally important to our small community and every endeavour should be made to assist people who may need health care.  The environment should take more precedence and adequate investment should be made to ensure that our quality of life is maintained.

Perhaps the real test for the new PN leader would be his reply to the measures announced in the Budget for 2018.   Or perhaps, the Budget 2018 is a test for Government.

 

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