PN pledges digital public procurement system
● Uniformed services to go on 40-hour work week
PN Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday presented two sets of economic proposals, the first focused on consolidating the economy and the second on the creation of new economic sectors.
Dr Busuttil said that the first immediate priorities for the economy will be to rebuild Malta’s reputation as a safe and just country. He said he looked forward to speaking at an EU Presidency event to say that Malta had a new government. Dr Busuttil also pledged that a new PN government would consolidate the financial service sector. Another priority would be the upgrading of the telecommunications sector with an ultra-high speed internet. Improving the connectivity with internet backbones across Europe and North Africa is key, he said.
The PN believes that the maritime and aviation sector have to become priority.
Dr Busuttil explained that he wants Malta to be the first country to offer business services digitally. He referred particularly to public procurement. Dr Busuttil said that a PN government would create a digital platform for public procurement which is more transparent.
He also pledges to have 25% of all government procurement from small businesses.
In another press conference, PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami said the PN was pledging to decrease the working hours of the disciplined forces to a 40-hour working week, and providing payment for any overtime worked. The disciplined forces include the Malta Police Force, the Armed Forces of Malta, the prison warders and the Civil Protection Department.
Dr Fenech Adami said that the police force has “been through a trauma.”
“They currently work 46 hours a week, rather than 40 hours,” he said. “We want the police to work 40 hours a week, like other workers, and if they do work more, they are paid overtime.” He said, adding that part of this pledge means increasing in the amount of police officers.
The deputy leader also pledged that the first €10,000 earned through “extra duty” work by police will have tax decreased from 15% to 10%. Dr Fenech Adami explained that extra duty is not in the usual routine of the police, and include events such as private functions or an event at the national stadium. He said that sometimes the police are severely delayed in payment, with the excuse that the organiser of the event has not yet paid. Dr Fenech Adami pledged that under a Nationalist Government, that would stop.
Prior to this, the Deputy Leader mentioned the first pledge that a new police commissioner will be selected by a two-third majority in Parliament.
Dr Fenech Adami also spoke on the need to increase the female members of women in the police force, however statistics about other European countries in this sector are yet to be examined. He said that measures for women to work within “all levels of the police force” will be introduced, including family friendly measures.
He also said special attention will be given to reforming rehabilitation for prisoners.
“A country where prisoners go in and come out worse as they were before is a failed society,” he said.
He also pledged that the party would look into introducing measures on criminal hotspots around Malta, so that police will not see working those shifts as “negative”, but, rather, would “enjoy the responsibility”.