PN asks for government’s total population increase objectives

The Opposition in a press conference yesterday afternoon called for the government to present its intentions on the total population increase the country is facing. Speaking at the PN headquarters, MP Kristy Debono called upon the government to explain as to whether any studies on the effects of the country’s increasing population have been carried out in terms of rising rents, infrastructure, environment and wages.

In an interview with The Malta Independent this year, Jobs Plus Chairman Clyde Caruana had said that there could be an increase of 30,000 to 40,000 new foreign workers in the next four to five years.

Debono yesterday explained that instead of the government deciding to focus on a more “cutting edge and innovative economy”, it is encouraging population growth: “A bigger population and more people will always mean that for example more people will be out shopping or buying property, which means the economy will grow based on simply that.”

Both Debono and her fellow PN MP Ivan Bartolo underscored the increasing number of people who are unable to afford the rising rent prices or housing. The PN claimed that it has received several reports of people living in garages.

Bartolo added that approximately 900 people are living in garages in Malta: “We are finding that those on low or median income who could once afford property now cannot even afford to rent an apartment.”

Debono emphasised that the rate of wages have only increased by 0.6 per cent with the economy not growing as the same rate compared to income: “The purchasing power is not growing at the same rate as the economy.”

Bartolo referred to a recent Eurostat figure that showed how one in 10 people in Malta are falling back on rent or their home loans.