A few weeks before the budget speech last year, the finance minister had mentioned that a special mechanism to protect the vulnerable from the cost-of-living impacts was being considered. After 12 months, nothing has come out of that ministerial announcement, the party said.
ADPD - The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that "while the government will be preparing and presenting its next budget, it seems to have forgotten to take the necessary measures so that the lowest earners - those known as 'the working poor', are better protected from cost-of-living impacts."
"Government and the Finance Minister speak about 'studies' that never lead to any action."
"We insist again on the urgent need for the basket of goods and services upon which the national minimum wage is based to be revised, so that this truly offers decent living to workers and pensioners. We recall that Caritas' studies - including the most recent one for 2020 - have repeatedly shown that an annual income of around €14,000 is required to purchase the basic needs for a family to live decently."
Cacopardo emphasized that ADPD's budget proposals in this respect are two fold: that the basket of goods and services upon which the national minimum wage is based needs to be revised. Moreover the cost-of-living adjustment is to be paid twice yearly - on the 1st of July and on the 1st of January - to minimise the impact of the increase in cost-of-living on vulnerable citizens.
"The lack of just distribution of wealth remains, and government is failing to implement the necessary measures for this fair distribution to take place," concluded Cacopardo.