The ministers’ remuneration package in the previous legislature was grossly mishandled and sternly criticised. Dr Joseph Muscat, then Leader of the Opposition, used the issue to gain more wind in his sails.What has been said and done is public knowledge and not worth going down that road again with one exception. But I will come to that later.
To his credit Prime Minister Joseph Muscat took charge of that situation and in early 2013 set the ball rolling again - a Commission was set up. The selected members of the Commission were Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino, Auditor General Anthony Mifsud and Chief Electoral Commissioner Saviour Gauci.
We now know that the Commission concluded its work and handed the report to the Prime Minister at the end of that same year. The commissioned report far from a “state secret” was kept under wraps at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Providentially, sister newspaper The Independent on Sunday, got hold of the report and revealed the remuneration report.
As was expected the report revolved around the remuneration for the person holding the national unifying Office. The person carrying the duties of a Prime Minister, the person burdened with the tasks of the House and the person entrusted to breathe down government’s neck. It included also the remuneration for persons appointed Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and Members of Parliament.
The report proposes a €95,000 salary for the President, an increase of €56,000. A close-by salary is being proposed for the Prime Minister. The salaries of around €70,000 for the Speaker of the House and the Leader of the Opposition are being proposed. A €30,000 wage increase.
The proposed remunerations are neither exceptional nor extraordinary. If anything, persons holding these offices are well underpaid. Comparisons are odious but they give an even bolder picture when the remuneration of persons holding these Offices is compared to others carrying less responsibility and earning a reasonable high salary. This applies in the public service and in the private sector.However, since the proposed increases are vertical one may spread the proposed increases on a span of three to five years.
The full-time politician proposal is fast becoming a necessity and cannot continue to be delayed or postponed. Full-time politicians should be better equipped and positioned to serve conscientiously their constituency and this small community. The volume of work which needs to be carried out by our politicians has undoubtedly increased since Malta joined the European Union.
However, in this regard it should be one-size fits all. Once a person is elected to represent his/her constituents there should be no opt-out clause. No discretion should be allowed. All elected members of parliament should become full-time politicians. If this is left to choice or chance it would simply defeat the notion of overworked politicians.
Remuneration is not a dirty word. Different responsibilities carry with them different remuneration packages. Similarly, persons holding these Offices should not be treated less favourable. True, perceptions may deceive people however, it is pertinent to note that Office holders have and will continue to have responsibilities at home too. They have to financially support their family and honour their financial commitments also. People motivated to serve the country should not be discouraged from entering into the political arena because they may suffer financial losses. This becomes more accentuated once they fail to get re-elected and will have to return to their normal lives and start afresh in their former career, business or profession.
In this sense the Prime Minister immediate adverse re-action to the Report was completely out of place. The Commission should become a permanent one and revise the remuneration of the person holding such Offices when they deem fit. It should not be the prerogative of the Prime Minister to review his remuneration or that of the persons holding these Offices.
If anything for political correctness sake, the Prime Minister should stop hiring his private car to the Office of the Prime Minister for his usewhile back-benchers should not be appointed to a chairperson post in public entities or authorities. These are not good examples of good governance.
In conclusion, the remuneration issue can be supported, flogged, ridiculed or turned upside-down to suit a tailor-made hidden political agenda. The truth of the matter is that the Commission appointed by Dr Muscat, rightly so, is proposing to double the remuneration package for the persons holding these Offices. The PM has another tough nut to crack.
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