The issue of pension reform is a tricky one, and the MLP is discussing it in depth before issuing its proposals, an MLP statement said yesterday.

At a meeting with the National Pensioners’ Assoc-iation, MLP leader Alfred Sant that the party has discussed the matter at length and will continue to do so because reforms cannot be made haphazardly.

The Opposition leader said that successive PN governments had taken eight years to come up with any proposals and therefore the MLP should also take its time to discuss the matter.

He said that the matter must be tied to social welfare, the health sector, sheltered accommodation for the elderly and, obviously, pensions themselves.

The MLP did not want to put forward any proposals that could not be implemented, said Dr Sant. “One cannot simply talk about what should happen, but how these measures can be put into place,” he said.

All aspects of pensions should be discussed, including both obligatory pension contributions and voluntary ones, he said.

Meanwhile, association representative Albert Tabone said that while Malta’s limitations are recognised, there could not be a situation where pensioners were existing, rather than living.

He said that while families on the minimum wage could make ends meet by a member of the family taking up a part-time job, pensioners obviously could not.

Mr Tabone pointed out that Malta’s minimum pension was equivalent to 97 per cent of the minimum wage, which raised serious doubts as to what type of life a pensioner could lead on that amount of money.

He closed by saying that while the association believed the retirement age should increase, the economic situation needed to improve.

MLP secretary-general Jason Micallef and MP Karl Chircop were also present at the meeting.