The General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) took a clear negative stand against the proposed pension's age to be imposed by law and increased to 65 years. The GRTU also stated that the Government's economic analysis for the next 20 years is too pessimistic and negative vis-a-vis the proposed pension's scheme.
The Government's new Pensions' Scheme was the main subject on the agenda during a meeting held at the offices of the GRTU between the GRTU, the Minister for Education, Youth and Employment Dr Louis Galea and Minister for Social Solidarity Dolores Cristina.
The GRTU agrees that the Government should create incentives for those persons who wish to work after having paid social security contributions for forty years after reaching the age of 61. The GRTU proposed that both the employee and employers should benefit from these incentives and that these should be at least equivalent to the social contribution plus another 10% in order to make up for sick leave and lack of production by ageing people.
However, the GRTU said that it will be of great damage to many enterprises, both large and small should the Government impose the law on employers from stopping persons from working at the age of 61 after having paid for 40 years social security contributions. The GRTU added that consequently most of them will have to close down since in today's competitive market, they will not be able to keep pace by utilizing ageing people who are not capable of working in a stressful environment and to make physical efforts that are required for the running of most small enterprises.
Also, the GRTU states that most self-employed sectors and the managers of such enterprises feel that it will not be possible for them to remain working after the age of 61.
© Copyright 2005 - MaltaMedia Online Network
Top of Page
| 
