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Report on welfare reforms still not ready
by David Kelleher
No date has been set when the government-appointed Commission
for Welfare Reform will present its final report.
The Commission was supposed to have handed in the report by
the end of 2000, however this was postponed until further notice.
Contacted yesterday, the chairman of the commission, Anthony
Galdes told The Malta Business Weekly that a number of technical
reports were still underway and that is why the report has not
been finalised.
“The technical team working with the commission is awaiting
the outcome of a number of studies. When these are completed
we will be able to finalise the report and present the government
with a concrete proposal overall,” Mr Galdes said.
Asked if it could take weeks or months to complete, Mr Galdes
said it was in the commission’s interest that the report
is completed as soon as possible.
Sources told The Malta Business Weekly that the report could
take much longer to be published if the commission’s members
do not all sign the report. When the interim report was published
at the beginning of 2000, not all members had signed the report
without reservations.
“The report may be delayed if the commission’s members
do not agree with all or part of the report. This would make
it very difficult for the government which needs the report
as soon as possible to be able to take action,” the sources
said.
Without the report, the government will not be able to discuss
pensions reform in Parliament and any changes, sources said,
would have to come in gradually.
At a meeting for financial experts last week, the subject of
pensions and investments was discussed. While more people are
investing, younger individuals are sceptical about long-term
pension planning because as the law is at present, any amount
saved on the side will not be added to the state pension.
There was general consensus that reforms should be gradually
introduced, giving the government breathing space while allow
the public to understand the changes being effected.
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