GWU supports Alfred Sant’s call for a minimum wage increase across Europe

The GWU expressed its support for Alfred Sant’s proposal to increase the Minimum Wage across Europe. A GWU delegation led by Secretary General Josef Bugeja met the Maltese MEP and discussed European challenges that lay ahead for Maltese and Gozitan workers.
Both sides noted progress in the local manufacturing industries, notably Playmobile, Tolly, Crane, De La Rue who are increasing their economic activties in Malta.
They also discussed the tax harmonisation proposal across all EU member states.
“This proposal harms Malta’s interests. It goes against the interests of the financial sector and igaming sector in Malta,” Sant told the GWU delegation.
Alfred Sant also opposed the proposal for a Federal Europe, which he said, is not in the interests of a small island state like Malta in the periphery of Europe.
“A federal Europe and a common EU army is not in Malta’s interests.” said the Maltese MEP.
Both sides expressed their concerns on the conditions of work of hundreds of foreign workers who are being imported to work in Malta. They agreed to keep in touch on new challenges prevailing in Europe in the coming months and years.
Josef Bugeja, General Secretary, Victor Carachi, President and Kevin Camilleri, Deputy Secretary General attended the meeting.

Maltese Version – IL-GWU TAPPOĠĠJA LIL ALFRED SANT BIEX TIŻDIED IL-PAGA MINIMA FL-EWROPA

Il-GWU taqbel mal-proposta ta’ Alfred Sant li wasal iż-żmien li tiżdied il-paga mimima fl-Ewropa. Delegazzjoni tal-GWU immexxija minn Josef Bugeja, Segretarju Ġenerali, iltaqgħet mal-MEP Laburista Alfred Sant fejn ġew diskussi l-isfidi tal-ħaddiema Ewropej, b’mod partikolari dawk f’Malta u f’Għawdex.
Alfred Sant u d-delegazzjoni tal-GWU innotaw li s-settur tal-Manifattura f’Malta bħalissa sejjer tajjeb. Fabbriki bħal Playmobile, Tolly, Crane, De La Rue qed ikabbru l-operat tagħhom.
Ġiet diskussa l-proposta tal-armonizzazzjoni tat-taxxi fl-istati membri kollha tal-UE.
“Din il-miżura hija ta’ detriment għal dawk li jaħdmu fis-settur finanzjarju u tal-igaming,” qal Alfred Sant.
Dwar il-proposta li jkun hemm Ewropa Federali, Alfred Sant qal li din ma taqbilx għal pajjiż żgħir bħal tagħna fil-periferija tal-Ewropa.
“Ewropa Federali u Armata tal-UE mhumiex fl-interess tagħna.”
Iż-żewġ naħat esprimew it-tħassib tagħhom dwar kundizzjonijiet ta’ xogħol ta’ mijiet ta’ barranin li qed jinġiebu Malta. Qablu li fix-xhur u s-snin li ġejjin iżommu kuntatt ma’ Alfred Sant dwar sfidi ġodda fl-Ewropa li żgur iħallu l-impatt tagħhom fuq ħaddiema Maltin u Għawdxin.
Id-delegazzjoni tal-GWU kienet magħmula minn Josef Bugeja, Segretarju Ġenerali, Victor Carachi, President u Kevin Camilleri, Deputat Segretarju Ġenerali.