Continuing on from Tuesday evening’s parliamentary debate regarding the Budget Measures Implementation Bill, Joseph Abela, Labour’s spokesperson on social security and cooperatives, spoke about the current situation being faced by foremen at the ports.

With the new consortium, Valletta Gateway Terminal, a subsidiary of the Japanese Portech, having decreased foremen’s earnings and benefits to the point that they are earning Lm6.40 for shifting a 90-ton piece of cargo costing thousands, without being paid for the machinery they use, nor their NI; the conglomerate has not kept to its promises, and to add insult to injury, cargo prices have increased, argued Mr Abela.

“Malta cannot continue to be competitive in the port sector if the people working within it are not given adequate, essential and continuous training. Someone needs to take political responsibility for all this injustice,” he pressed.

Commenting that Joseph Abela had not been given correct information with regard to the port’s situation, Tony Abela, Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, said that although the budget did not include taxes, the people working within all tax departments and investigation sections do not seem to understand that every situation is “sui generis” and does not necessarily subscribe to a set of six same-set guidelines, so something should be done in this regard.

Turning his attention to comments made by Labour MP, Helena Dalli, the previous day, Notary Abela exclaimed, “How can you give the impression that we are in a worse situation than when we had a Labour government? The PN vision cannot be compared to one that leaves the Constitutional Court suspended!”

He then went on to mention various sectors in which the government entered into ventures, referencing positive results originating from the expenses undertaken.

Louis Galea, Education, Youth and Employment Minister, focused his intervention on the way in which the government’s policy has increased sustainable employment and that this can overcome the obstacles of change, technology and competition, unlike during the 1960s and 70s when thousands were unemployed, and others paid pittance in regimental employment.

“So as to increase employment, the economy has to be fertile, hence the boost in foreign direct investments and local investments. We shall not rest while people want to work and have the capacity to do so,” the minister pointed out. He also spoke of those within the sector who are unable to hold down a job, who are being provided for considerably through the ETC. Dr Galea then turned his attention to investments within the education sector, such as the building of new schools and the colleges’ project.

“The policies that this government harbours are there to create an environment which offers the best opportunities – training and education, generating the economy and creating employment.”

MLP’s main spokesperson for public works, roads, public transport and construction, Charles Buhagiar scrutinised the measures taken by the government in two areas. He criticised the fact that the exuberant rise in the cost of property and all fees associated with buying and developing one, was not tackled in the budget; giving example of the way in which the price hike occurred and the effects it has left today. He strongly criticised the government for overspending, bad management and ill-conceived planning of road reconstruction, stressing that all entities having to do with road rebuilding, such as those in water works and drainage, should be consulted, even before the tender is issued.

The fact that this is not taken into consideration, resulting in bad estimations and subsequent overspending, is clear evidence of the government’s incompetence, Mr Buhagiar said.

At the beginning of the session, motions asking that the Ombudsman’s Report and that of the Auditor General be examined by a committee, and that the House undertake the first reading of the Bill on Foster Care, were passed.

Parliament resumes on Monday.