Statistically speaking Malta cannot be described as one of the most unequal societies in the world. This mainly thanks to the reforms introduced by previous Labour administrations including a strong social safety net

Still, economic and social inequalities persist and as a consequence several opportunities are out of bounds for many. Recent developments are putting serious pressure on many families as they are struggling to make ends meet. Many families are finding it almost impossible to get to the end of the month without eating their past savings. The high utility bills are proving too much for several households. Households are also faced with mounting costs of education as well as increasing health expenses in the form of medicine and access to adequate health services.

Figures from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions published by the National Statistical Office show that almost 10,000 household have been in arrears in paying utility bills while almost 1,200 household have been in arrears in mortgage or rent payments. Equally worrying is the fact that 11% of all families declare that they cannot afford a meal with meat or chicken every second day. The same amount of families declares that they do not afford to keep their house adequately warm. Around 30% of all households state that they cannot afford to pay unexpected expenses of over €450.

The number of people at the risk of poverty is increasing each year. In 2009, around 60,000 people were at risk of poverty. Of those, 16,000 were elderly with females being most vulnerable. The same source shows that 17% of the Gozitan population is at risk of poverty with only the southern harbour area having a slightly higher percentage than that of Gozo.

Of course statistics do not show that human drama at play in its totality. Behind every number or percentage lies a human being. It can be a young man without a job or a mother who cannot afford not to go out to seek some form of employment even if at times the only jobs available offer very little, if any, satisfaction. It represents elderly couples who are struggling to live adequately with their pension and are afraid that any unexpected health problem will leave them severely exposed.

The costs of this inequality are too evident. They range from a lack of self esteem to social problems such as drug abuse. They include poor health and poor education. Above all, inequality hampers the fulfilment of the individual.

In the past people used to look at politics as a way of improving their social and emotional well being by changing their economic circumstances for the better. But over the last few years the only thing that people are seeing from those in power is a lack of commitment to improve the situation of the common citizen. They note that money is no problem when it comes to dishing out consultancy jobs for well-connected people while all sorts of excuses are given when government services fall well below what is acceptable.

Generally speaking, nowadays people are almost resigned to the fact that despite all their efforts, on an individual level they cannot achieve much. While in the past there was a belief that the resources will be shared if they contribute towards its creation, nowadays they know that the benefits will go only to the few. They know that without a clear change in policy that aims at finding ways to improve the well being of the whole population, the status quo cannot be broken.

The stated increase in inequality and the subsequent decrease in the hope for a better tomorrow have many causes. An obvious cause is a blatant lack of access to resources. A lack of access to resources that does not limit itself to financial matters. The real and most pungent issue is when it leads to a barrier in areas such as education and health.

Arguments about inequality used to be centred around the poor and on the disadvantaged. Now the focus is more on how resources and opportunities are made available. Unfortunately, such issues sometimes tend to be overlooked. It is in the interest of all to ensure that the issue is never off the agenda.

Dr Anton Refalo is Labour spokesman for Gozo