ADPD – The Green Party has proposed a higher minimum wage and rent control for those on low income, among several measures the party issued in a press conference on Worker’s Day.
On Workers’ Day, ADPD – The Green Party celebrated that work should be about dignity and not exploitation.
In Malta today, we still see a considerable number of workers, in particular some sectors like construction, health, and services, who are being paid low wages that certainly do not reflect the value of their work, said Sandra Gauci, Chairperson, and Mario Mallia, Deputy General Secretary, of ADPD -The Green Party.
The Green Party held a press conference outside Malta’s main hospital. “The hospital is a place of work with people from different backgrounds, with different roles and from different countries work together to provide care and essential services to us all,” the party said.
The speakers reiterated that it is a fact that workers in some sectors, many of whom are foreign workers, are being paid on average 38% less than other workers. Not only is this unjust but also shows that the economic model in use is dependent on cheap labour and not quality, skills, and productivity. This economic model is damaging to both foreign workers as well as Maltese and Gozitan workers, the party said.
“We cannot forget that certain sectors such as care and health depend on foreign workers. These workers are a pillar of our society, and they deserve the same protection, respect, and dignity as anybody else. Their working conditions should be regulated properly, with fair pay, adequate accommodation, and full access to all rights in connection with work and living standards. When taking into consideration the fact that rent has increased by 175% in five years, it becomes obvious that in our society there is a substantial sector experiencing poverty.”
ADPD said that it believes that the time has come for us to move towards an economic model that places the individual at the centre.
This means the end of the economic model that depends on exploitation based on low wages, and a minimum wage that should be increased, and which should be sufficient for decent living. Studies by Caritas, Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar, and the European Commission clearly show that this is necessary. “An annual salary of 12,000 euro is far from the 19,000-euro annual salary that Caritas calculated is necessary for a family of four people,” the party said.
ADPD continued by advocating for the effective enforcement of all workers’ rights, including those foreign workers and gig (digital platforms) workers and for the push for effective measures for more workers to be protected by a collective agreement to increase beyond the current figure of 31%.
“The European Union directive dictates that the rate should go up to 80%. This would ensure that workers have better rights in sectors such as tourism and retail amongst others, which are currently not being met. In doing so, workers would not need to beg the state for a decent living,” the party said.
The party also proposed rent control for accommodation that is affordable for those on a low wage and a better work-life balance.
“On Worker’s Day, whilst we thank all workers for their labour, we call for a politics that respects all workers and works towards a just and sustainable economy. The wealth of our country should be based on fair compensation for all, and not on the exploitation that increases the Gross Domestic Product whilst eradicating workers’ dignity. Wealth should be enjoyed by all, together,” the party concluded.
