Last week two major companies announced that they were going to reduce the number of employees. These companies, which have been in Malta for many years are ST and Trelleborg; both of them are export oriented. The shedding of workers is a blow first and foremost for the employees and their family but also for the country. The ST alone employs more than 2,000 employees while Trelleborg has about 530. ST alone exports more than half of our exports and this is more than an obvious sign of the magnitude of the problem.

The world economy is passing through some difficult times, which some economic experts describe as unprecedented and no one has a clue of when this downward and negative trend is going to change. However we as a country need to be proactive and still try to find ways and means to do whatever it takes to protect employment and especially create new opportunities.

Together with this, however, reducing taxes and not incurring more expenses on industry and the private sector is of utmost importance in this dark period. I am sure that the Nationalist government is aware of this situation but unfortunately it is not acting in this direction. This differs from what other governments around the world are doing, even the European Union which most of the time is very strict when it comes to the implementation of directives. Not to mention the United States, where all this chaos started, where we know that the US government took drastic measures which are not according to their economic creed.

And what about Malta? Well, it seems that the Nationalist government has no intention to do something of the sort. Thank God and thanks to the way our banks operated we have no problem where the financial sector is concerned but indirectly we are being hit. Recently the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry proposed a number of measures aimed at providing a stimulus package for the Maltese economy. These were also endorsed by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. The government is repeating that the budget announced for this year last November is enough as a stimulus for the economy. It seems that this is not the case and for sure it is not enough. I am saying this because the proposed measures by the chamber were announced towards the end of January, that is more than two months after the budget was announced.

Even the Labour Party (PL) made an appeal to the government in this respect and proposed measures to help the economy but it seems that GonziPN (if this still exists) is not interested. The problem is that if something tangible in this difficult time is not done than problems will get bigger than those experienced until now. Last days were dark days for some companies and employees of which a number of them do not make it to the news. Let us all hope that we do not have more dark days where jobs are lost.

Procedural motion

I am 100 per cent sure that most people are not interested in the procedural motion being discussed in Parliament. The Prime Minister presented the motion to adjust the days when Parliament meets, the quorum rule and when divisions are taken. The families are more concerned how they are going to pay the higher water and electricity bills, which amount to a surcharge of 185 per cent and how they are going to make ends meet with their current salary. Others are concerned about their work and if they lost their job how they are going to find another one. These are the main issues that interest most families.

However in a Parliamentary democracy these debates are relevant as well. The signal is that the current administration is not at ease in governing the country and panic is reigning among the majority in Parliament. Parts of the motion can be considered as a threat to our democracy since the majority is only considering its own needs and requirements.

Parliament does not belong to the majority but to all Members of Parliament. Most of all, Parliament belongs to the people who elect their representatives in a general election. In an ideal situation work in Parliament should be agreed but this is the responsibility of both Parliamentary groups especially good will from the majority which can impose its ideas by a simple majority vote. The result of the general election should also be kept in mind and having a minority government is something which the people opted for.

The Alchemist

Last Friday together with my wife we had the opportunity to see The Alchemist at the Manoel Theatre. A very big well done to all those concerned especially Adrian Buckle who is instrumental to put up productions of a number of plays that otherwise we will not see locally.

Carmelo Abela is Deputy Speaker and Labour main spokesperson for industry and foreign investment

Email: [email protected]