Average annual basic salary has increased by over €4,000 since 2008

More than 500 pieces of chewing gum were found stuck along 25 metres of the St Paul’s Bay promenade, in a new social experiment and video by 89.7 Bay which forms part of their ‘Making Malta Green & Clean’ campaign.

Speaking to the press at the launch of the campaign yesterday, Director of 89.7 Bay Kevin Decesare explained that the campaign will run over three months, and include videos, advertising, promotion and clean up events together with eNGOs. Decesare said that, hopefully, the campaign “will encourage people to make that first step to note litter in the first place.” The nine social media videos will be released throughout the three months.

Also present at the event and supporting the initiative was Environment Minister Jose Herrera, who said that his Ministry is working on the necessary legal framework, awareness, education and enforcement when it comes to cleaning Malta. “Enforcement is a bit weak,” he said, adding “this needs to be strengthened from the side of the Ministry.” He added that it is promising that a company like 89.7 Bay, who is popular amongst youth, is making taking care of the environment “fashionable”.

The nationwide campaign aims to surge the population to take action to make Malta a cleaner and greener place. The main pillars which the campaign will be focusing on are littering, dog fouling, recycling and waste.

The website www.mmgc.com.mt has been set up as the informational platform of the campaign, informing visitors how to get involved and make a difference. The average annual basic salary increased by €4,285 between 2008 and 2017, information tabled in Parliament shows.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo was replying to a Parliamentary Question by government MP Clayton Bartolo.

Information released from the education and employment ministry showed that in 2008 the average annual basic salary was €13,573 compared to 2017’s average of €17,858.

Bartolo said the statistics did not include sick pay, bonuses or allowances.

The information from the Labour Force Survey showed the increased in pay over the past nine years.

Private sector vs public sector

Another question asked by MP Clayton Bartolo to Minister of Finance Edward Scicluna was on the proportion of workers who are part of the public and private sectors between 2008 to 2016.

The percentage of people who are working in the private sector has increased by roughly four percent whilst the percentage of those working in the public sector has also decreased by approximately four percent.

The statistics from Job Plus showed in 2008, 28.5 percent of workers worked in the public sector. This has decreased to 24.7 percent in 2016.

Meanwhile in 2008, 71.5 percent of workers worked in the private sector which has increased to 75.3 percent in 2016.