Green Paper on Poverty and Social Exclusion - Żminijietna's reactions

Żminijietna - Voice of the Left submitted 15 proposals to the Government in connection with the Green Paper on Poverty and Social Exclusion.

"It is positive that the Government is recognising that poverty and social exclusion have various dimensions, that holistic policies are required for growing problems, and that the State has responsibility in this regard".

"Malta should look towards a social model based on a universal welfare that gives importance to to particular challenges and diversities in relation to poverty and social exclusion. Discourse on inequality cannot exclude factors related to social class and should not give the impression that there is no alternative to neo-liberal ideology".

"Żminijietna's proposals deal with a need for increase in the minimum wage and reform in COLA to reflect the cost of living; legislation against precarious employment; active policy measures within a context of universal welfare; action against energy poverty and in favour of green jobs; inclusive policies on disability; decent pensions; equality amongst children; progressive fiscal policy; a maximum wage in the public sector; integration and social justice in relation to immigration; increased consultation with civil society; official discourse that promotes social justice rather than neo liberalism; a structured debate on the introduction of a universal basic income; increased investment in preventive health and egalitarian health policies; and a one-stop shop to assist people experiencing imminent crises"

Żminijietna's document is found beneath this press release.

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Green paper ghal struttura ghal tnaqqis fil-faqar u ghal inkluzoni socjali

 

Reazzjoni Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug

 

Frar 2014

Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug tawgura lill-Gvern li qed iniedi process ta’ konsultazzjoni dwar il-green paper ghal struttura ghal tnaqqis fil-faqar u ghal inkluzoni socjali.  Huwa pozittiv li l-Gvern qed jirrikonoxxi li hemm dimensjonijiet varji tal-faqar u eskluzjoni socjali u li dawn jehtiegu politika olistika ghal problema li qed tikber. Huwa pozittiv ukoll li l-Gvern qed jirikonoxxi li l-Istat ghandu responsabilita’ li permezz ta’ politika socjali jista’ jikkumbatti dawn l-isfidi, u li ser jidhlu bosta mizuri f’dan ir-rigward, kif gew imhabbra fil-bagit 2014.

 

Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug temmen li Malta ghandha thares lejn mudell socjali li hu mibni fuq welfare state universalista’ li jaghti l-importanza xierqa lil sfidi partikolari u lid-diversitajiet li jezistu fil-faqar u fl-eskluzzjoni socjali. Zminijietna temmen ukoll li diskors dwar l-inguwaljanza ma jistax ihalli barra fatturi relatati ma’ klassi socjali u lanqas ma jista’ jirraguna li ma hemmx alternattivi ghal politika neo-liberali u kuncetti bhall-privatizazzjoni.

 

Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug qed taghmel dawn il-proposti ghal struttura ghal tnaqqis fil-faqar u ghal inkluzjoni socjali f’Malta

1. Zieda fil-paga minima u riforma fil-COLA biex tirrifleti l-gholi tal-hajja. Din ghandha tkopri lill-haddiema kollha, full-time, part-time u kuntrattwali, u tista’ twassal ghal livell ta’ ghejxien ahjar ghal haddiema b’paga baxxa, partecipazzjoni ikbar fis-suq tax-xoghol peress li x-xoghol ikun iktar irendi u  iktar produttivita’.

 

2. Ligi kontra x-xoghol prekarju. Ghandu jkun hemm definizzjoni cara ta’ xoghol prekarju biex b’hekk tidhol fis-sehh leglizlazzjoni kontra dan it-tip ta’ xoghol u favur xoghol dicenti.

 

3. Active policy measures fi sfond ta’ welfare universali. Filwaqt li hu tajjeb li jkun hemm skemi ta’ tahrig, tapering ta’ beneficcji socjali sabiex jinkoragixxu lill-persuni biex isibu mpieg minghajr ma jiehdu skoss permezz ta’ telf  ta’ benefficji socjali, dan m’ghandux iwassal ghal welfare kundizzjonali u tnaqqis ta’ welfare universali. Dan ta’ l-ahhar ghandu jitqies bhala kumpens ghal inugwaljanzi u diffikultajiet li ggib maghha sistema kapitalista, u bhala dhul xieraq li jizgura li ma jkunx hemm nies fil-faqar.

 

4. Glieda kontra l-faqar relatat mal-konsum ta’ l-energija u favur il-green jobs. L-istat ghandu jizgura mhux biss li l-kontijiet tad-dawl, ilma u gass ikunu affodabbli, izda ukoll li jizdied l-access ghall-energija nadifa u rinnovabbli b’ghajnuna ta’ l-istat u ppjanar li jzid l-access f’binjiet. Sfidi ambjentali u ta’ energija ghandhom jitqiesu bhala opportunita’ ta’ holqien ta’ green jobs u sostenibilita’. L-istat ghandu jkollu rwol ewlieni fil-produzzjoni u distribuzzjoni ta’ l-energija.

 

5. Politka inklussiva dwar dizabilita’. Ghandu jkun hemm politika li tirrikonixxi id-diversita’ ta’ dizabilitajiet, biex b’hekk tinkoragixxi independent living, impieg u/jew harsien socjali skond il-persuna, sabiex kulhadd ikollu kwalita’ ta’ hajja tajba garantita. Il-kunsilli lokali ghandhom jigu obbligati li jimpjegaw persuni b’dizabilita’ fost il-haddiema taghhom.

 

6. Penzjoni dicenti. Malta ghandha tersaq lejn penzjoni universali ghal kull penzjonant sabiex jonqsu l-inugwaljanzi ta’ klassi socjali u l-faqar. L-istat m’ghandux jabdiga mir-responsabilita’ li jipprovi din it-tip ta’ penzjoni.  Haddiema anzjani m’ghandhomx jigu meqjusa bhala piz fuq l-ekonomija u jigu ddiskriminati, izda ghandhom jithallew jahdmu jekk huma jixtiequ jaghmlu dan, filwaqt li jibqghu igawdu penzjoni shiha.

 

7. Ugwaljanza fost it-tfal. Ghandha tissahhah l-edukazzjoni komprensiva, li filwaqt li tirikonoxxi li tfal jista’ jkollhom hiliet u interessi differenti, m’ghandhomx jigu segregati b’mod klassist. Ghandu jigi zgurat ukoll li t-tfal kollha jkollhom id-dritt ta’ access universali ghall-attivitajiet kulturali, muzikali, sportivi u edukattivi offruti mill-istat.

 

8. Taxxi progressivi. Il-Gvern ghandu jerga’ jintroduci taxxa fuq id-dhul ta’ 35% ghal min ghandu paga gholja. Din ir-rata hija wahda mill-iktar baxxi fl-Ewropa u ma xxekilx l-investiment jew l-inizjattiva. Id-dhul iggenerat ghandu jintuza biex jiffinanzjaw nefqa pubblika tal-Gvern, li b’hekk tkun fuq sisien sostenibbli, specjalment f’dak li ghandu x’jaqsam ma’ nefqa rikurrenti.

 

9. Paga massima fis-settur pubbliku. Il-Gvern m’ghandux izid l-inguwaljanzi fis-settur pubbliku billi jaghti pagi astronomici, fejn hemm min sahansitra qed ikollu iktar minn zewg pagi full-time ta’ xoghol u konsulenzi li jaghmel fis-settur pubbliku.

 

10. Integrazzjoni u gustizzja socjali fl-immigrazzjoni. Ghandu jkun hemm iktar infurzar tal-ligi kontra min qed jisfrutta’ lill-immigranti irregolari ghal xoghol, u ghandu jkun hemm politika iktar socjalment gusta fuq livell nazzjonali u Ewropew favur integrazzjoni u kontra d-detenzjoni u pushbacks.

 

11. Hidma ikbar mas-socjeta’ civili. Ghandu jkun hemm iktar konsultazzjoni ma’ ghaqdiet non-governattivi, ricerkaturi u esperti f’oqsma varji tas-socjeta’ civili. Fost ohrajn, ghandu jigi zgurat li jkun hemm iktar konsultazzjoni ma’ ricerka li ssir fl-Universita’ ta’ Malta.

 

12. Gustizzja socjali u mhux diskors neoliberali u ta’ l-underclass. L-istat ghandu jahdem ghal mudell socjali ibbazat fuq gustizzja socjali, ugwaljanza, accessibilita’ u inkluzjoni. Ghalhekk diskors ufficjali li jhares lejn persuni foqra bhala kazijiet ta’ individwi li jgibu ruhhom hazin u li huma hatja tal-faqar taghom ghandu jigi evitat. Ghandu jigi evitat ukoll diskors ufficjali li jsostni li m’hemmx alternattivi sostenibbli ghall-privatizazzjoni ta’ servizzi pubblici.

 

13.  Diskussjoni strutturata dwar l-introduzzjoni ta’ dhul minimu garantit ghal kulhadd, sabiex hadd ma jghix fil-faqar filwaqt li ma tinqatax l-inizjattiva ghal min irid jidhol fis-suq tax-xoghol. Is-sistema tal-welfare tkun issimplifikata u l-ispejjez socjali relatati ma’ faqar jinghelbu.

 

14. Investiment ikbar fis-sahha priventiva u politika kontra inguwaljanza ta’ klassi fis-settur tas-sahha. Il-Gvern m’ghandux jippermetti li min ghandu access ghal insurances u konsultenti privati jinghata preferenza ghal access fis-settur pubbliku tas-sahha.

 

15. One-stop shop ghal persuni fi krizi imminenti. Il-Gvern ghandu jiffacilita’ l-access ghal ghajnuna socjali lil min ghandu emergenza ta’ faqar u/jew eskluzoni socjali bhal persuni li jinsabu bla saqaf, eks-habsin, immigrant irregolari u persuni li jesperjenzaw faqar ghall-ewwel darba minhabba emergenza bhal mard serju.