| ‘Welfare State should be strengthened’ – Zminijietna – Voice of the Left |
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Press Release: 04/03/08 |
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Zminijietna - Voice of the Left ‘Welfare State should be strengthened’ – Zminijietna – Voice of the Left Zminijietna – Voice of the Left said that a new Government should strengthen the Welfare State if it believes in equality and social justice. “The gains made by the Maltese welfare state should be protected and strengthened, and the welfare state should emphasize equality, social justice, efficiency and sustainability through a universalist model which also caters for specific needs”. “The welfare state should not only be based on cash benefits – even though these are very important. It should also incorporate education, training, guidance, family-friendly work practices, investment in human resources and encouragement of initiative. The state should also make use of subsidies and tax exemptions so as to improve the standard of living of workers. Housing should be seen as an essential social right with increased state investment in the supply of housing”. “The Maltese welfare state also requires investment in accessible childcare centres, increase in parental leave and flexible working hours as a choice for workers, as these enhance better balance between employment and family and thus improve people's quality of life”. “State pensions should be guaranteed and should be equal for everyone by being based on citizenship rather than on previous income.” Michael Briguglio Zminijietna – Lehen ix-Xellug qalet li Gvern gdid ghandu jsahhah il-WelfareState jekk jemmen fl-ugwaljanza u l-gustizzja socjali. “Il-kisbiet li ghamel pajjizna fil-harisen socjali ghandhom jigu protetti u msahha, u l-welfare state ghandu jenfasizza l-ugwaljanza, l-gustizzja socjali, l-efficjenza u s-sostenibilita' permezz ta’ mudell universalista li jkopri wkoll bzonnijiet specifici”. “Welfare state m'ghandux ifisser biss ghotjiet ta' flus – ghalkemm dawn huma mportanti hafna, izda ghandu jinkorpora wkoll affarijiet bhall-edukazzjoni, tahrig, gwida cara, prattici ta' xoghol favur il-familja, investiment fir-rizorsi umani, u enkoraggament ghall-inizjattiva. L-istat ghandu juza' l-ghodda ta' sussidji u ezenzjonijiet mit-taxxa sabiex itejjeb il-livell ta' l-ghixien tal-haddiema. Il-housing ghandu jitqies bhala dritt socjali essenzjali, b'investiment ikbar mill-istat ghall-provista tal-housing”. “Jinhtiegu wkoll investiment f’oqsma socjali bhac-childcare centres accessibli, zieda fil-parental leave, kif ukoll flessibilita’ b’ghazla tal-haddiem, biex b’hekk ikun hemm bilanc ahjar bejn ix-xoghol u l-familja u titjieb il-kwalita' tal-hajja.” Michael Briguglio Click here to download .doc version of Press Release |
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