PN suggests lowering taxes on part-timers and overtime hours to 10%

The Nationalist Party presented its pre-budget document to civil society groups today, with the year’s theme being ‘A Balanced Economy, a Sustainable Society’.

Speaking at the press conference, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia explained that, “we are currently living in a conundrum, where on the one hand we are seeing high levels of economic growth which on the other hand is not translating into a better standard of living for large segments of society.

“We have a surplus in government finances but a large social, environmental and institutional deficit.”

He criticised the government for fueling the economic growth mainly through “uncontrolled and unplanned development”, with their policies focusing on the “here and now with little to no regard for the needs and aspirations of the future generations”.

Delia said that if one had to look at the other side of the coin which is showing economic growth one finds a government that operates with gross incompetence, lack of forward planning, institutionalized corruption, a total lack of social conscience, and clear disrespect towards the environment.

“The country is being managed by a political mentality that promotes those who are best at bending or breaking rules. This is not the type of economic development that the country needs. Our economy can and should develop from strength to strength without leaving victims in its wake.

“The Nationalist Party is analysing what is happening in our country, within the parameters of the debate for next year’s budget.”

Amongst other proposals, the Nationalist Party suggested lowering the part-time income tax to 10%, along with lowering the tax on overtime to the same 10%.

Nationalist MP Mario de Marco gave a presentation on the document which went over the Maltese and international developments.

The document also reviews public finances, particularly on the ballooning government recurrent expenditure, focuses on the challenges that exist in important sectors such as health, education and social services.

“The number of persons living at-risk-of-poverty is increasing and is bound to continue increasing because of the double whammy effect of the downward pressure on wages and inflation.”

Finally, the document looks at important economic sectors including the remote gaming and financial services which are facing existential threats not least because of the way the government handled these sectors.