Żminijietna – Voice of the Left urges the government to implement Caritas’s proposal on an increase in the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage was introduced in Malta in 1974 and since then it has never been revised. The only increases in the national minimum wage came directly from the cost of living adjustment.

To enhance and protect competitiveness is a good thing in itself, but this should not come at the expense of the low income workers. Minimising the cost of production should not constitute a race to the bottom. The minimum wage is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour.

Labour studies also show that an increase in the national minimum wage will improve the standard of living of low income workers, reduces poverty, and can increase efficiency and productivity. Efficiency is directly proportional with job satisfaction.

Those on a minimum wage income are mostly non skilled workers, workers coming from a poor environment, teenagers in their first job experience, females who are employed on a part-time basis or on a definite contract and immigrants.

Till now, the organisations and political parties that have shown support for Caritas’s proposals on an increase in the minimum wage have been the General Worker’s Union , FORum Unions Maltin, Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party, and the Communist Party of Malta. Government and other organisations should follow suit.

■ Richard Mifsud

PRO

Żminijietna – Voice of the Left