Opposition Leader Adrian Delia calls on government to help businesses
Opposition Leader Adrian Delia has stressed the need for the government to aid businesses who are suffering as a result of the current virus, in order to prevent loss of jobs.
“With every day that passes, the country will see both positive and worrying news. If we want more positive, then we need to push for more prevention, immediate action and mitigation,” Delia said.
Delia stressed that the country needs to be prepared and work so that, as much as possible, it can be prepared and prevent more virus cases emerging. When prevention does not work, he said, the country needs to work to minimise the damage, “and where damage is done, we need to see what help we can give.” Delia remarked that the PN is continually keeping itself up to date so that, on the basis of the information coming in, it will issue its proposals and constructive ideas in the national interest.
Delia said that activity in the street is reducing, and that a big part of this was undoubtedly the closing of the schools. Less people on the road means less of a chance for the virus to be transmitted from one person to another. He appealed to the elderly and other people considered to be vulnerable to, as much as possible, remain indoors.
He urged the government to listen to PN proposals to continue reducing the transmission of the virus. “The quicker we take action, the more we can take care of what will happen in the country in the coming weeks.” As such, he appealed to employers and those that represent workers to accelerate measures to reduce as much as possible the potential transmission of the virus at places of work. He said that it is not business as usual.
Delia added that the measures being taken are having an impact on businesses and wages. “Our first priority must be to assure everyone’s health, but we must also assure that the impact on the economy is one that we can handle, so that when this situation passes, we can return to the economic rhythm that the country has benefitted from the past years.”
He said that the government has an obligation to ensure that nobody carries more weight than they can afford to. He appealed to companies to help employees in all ways possible, and said that the government should declare and explain how it will help businesses, and whether this will happen for self-employed persons and SMEs. He noted that an aid framework needs to be established.
He also asserted that the country needs to have protocols in place for situations like the one the country is facing. These protocols, he said, should look beyond the main priority that is healthcare. He said that a system is needed for the Police Force, AFM, CPD and Social Care Departments would know exactly what steps need to be taken.