“Azzjoni Nazzjonali has had a chance to show that Malta is divided in two – the political parties on the one hand, and society at large on the other.

The parties’ companies are subsidised and owe hundreds of liri in national insurance contributions, and to the VAT Department, but if people do not pay VAT their property is sequestered,” said Azzjoni Nazzjonali leader Josie Muscat at a walkabout around Mosta’s open air market yesterday morning.

AN are asking that before 8 March the major political parties should publish their books which include information about their subsidised companies, NI contributions, rent, water and electricity, so that the Maltese can see whether they are truly above the law or not.

“We have come here to visit a group of workers whose work is little appreciated. To make a living each day they have to set up and then dismantle everything in different places and their job depends on the weather. Besides, these people are included with many businesses that the government thinks of as thieves so they have many controls and checks to go through, and as some of them told us here today their work is a constant battle,” said Dr Muscat.

A problem these small businesses face is with regard to the cash registers and continuous controls by inspectors. For this reason AN suggests an agreement between the Tax Department and the Monti, (just as in the case of doctors, specialists and hairdressers) where the hawker and the department agree on a benchmark for the seller to pay in taxes per year, agreed for a three year period, and according to AN this would enable them to enjoy the fruits of their work.

The hawkers would also benefit from other AN proposals, among them that they don’t pay income tax unless their earnings are above Lm6,000 (e13,980) and that they should benefit from a flat rate of 18 per cent like everyone else.