The UHM Voice of the Workers revealed its pre-Budget proposals for the year of 2023.
The union called for several measures to be implemented within the upcoming Budget in different sectors, such as the economy, the higher cost of living, the reduction in taxes, minimum pay, mechanisms for vulnerable families, the fight against precarious work, better work conditions, work-life balance, the elderly, education, the environment, and the social sector.
The UHM called for a more sustainable economic model, proposing for the allocation of more funds on productive sectors and encouraged government to continue helping those who are most vulnerable.
On public investment, it encouraged government to insist with the European Commission on the golden rule through which the public investment made in education would not be counted with the national debt.
It said that government should also insist that the rules governing the Growth and Stability Pact should be changed due to the completely different reality the country had before the pandemic.
The UHM said that a guarantee must be given that fuel and energy prices do not rise, as well as compensation to be given immediately when electricity, water or fuel prices increase, and not wait for the 2023 cost of living increase (COLA).
It proposed that the full COLA must be given for those who did not have increases by collective agreements. The union also proposed that the Household Budgetary Survey is done again to reflect the realities of today and the current consumption style.
The UHM said that the payments which go to a person’s social contributions should no longer be taxable and all overtime earnings must be taxed at a 15% rate instead of the first €10,000 only.
The union said that government should immediately stop its agreement with Steward Healthcare, which would save the country hundreds of millions per year.
Following a study, the minimum wage in Malta should increase to 50% of the gross average wage over a period of years, as it said that at present, the minimum wage does not even meet the minimum requirements in the European Union’s Adequate Minimum Wage Directive.
It proposed a change in law so that workers can only benefit from a collective agreement if they are members of any union of their choice. It also said that Malta should consider the Austrian model, where there are the highest rates of workers covered by a collective agreement.
The union proposed that there should be a study to find out why Maltese people spend a lot of money on healthcare, despite healthcare in Malta being free of charge.
It said that to fight against precarious work, employment contracts must be registered on a national register which is accessible through a dedicated portal only by the employer, the employee and the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER), to avoid any illegal clauses and payments below the minimum.
The union said that the employment contract system should be fully digitized by 1 January 2027 and any employment contract which is not registered in this system would be illegal.
It proposed an increase in minimum sick leave days, from 10 days to 15 days, to be paid in full. Urgent family leave should be increased from 15 to 30 hours and double pay should be given to everyone on Sundays.
A law should also be passed for workers who have injured themselves at the workplace to take their take-home pay.
The UHM said that there should be a gradual increase in the capping of pensions, as well as the pensioner should enjoy a full salary even if they decide to continue working. Such a pensioner should no longer pay the social security contributions, it suggested.
It also proposed increases in benefits for elderly who are 75+ and 80+, as well as a grant of €200 for pensioners who are over 70 years old for medicines which are not in the government formulary.
Equipment such as a smart watch with GPS should be given to elderly who have dementia and are still living in the community, it proposed.
On a better balance between work and family, incentives should be given to employers who introduce remote working practices and flexibility.
Workers who are suspended from work should be given full salary until their case is decided, and carers’ leave should be paid, and not listed as unpaid leave, the union proposed.
The program Klabb 3-16 should also be extended to all schools, including private and Church schools, to avoid the need for children to go from one school to another.
On education and training, more apprenticeship opportunities should be given to MCAST and University students, whilst youths up to 25 years old should be given chances for exchange programs in EU countries.
Increases in financial aid from government for workers who continue their studies, as well as more worker training centres were also proposed.
“It is time to incentivize the trade unions so that they become worker training centres. This means that government should create a special fund that would be utilized by the unions by applying for it according to how much relevant training they create from their entities,” the union said.
Environment proposals included increased incentives in favour of more electric vehicles, including financial aid on the purchase of electric or hybrid cars, strengthening infrastructure in areas around the coast in case of a tsunami, and more incentives to reduce greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030.
The issue of solar rights should also be taken seriously and therefore the study which was made between the Chamber of Engineers and the Institute of Sustainable Energy should serve as a basis for a discussion in parliament to consider amendments to the law after public consultation, the UHM proposed.
On the social sector, it was proposed that children with severe disabilities who live in the community should be given help so that the house is equipped with the necessary facilities.
Family planning programs for couples and young parents were also proposed, among child and adolescent care prevention services based on the aim of keeping families together and reducing the number of children entering alternative care.