23 - 29 August 2001

Welfare dilemma has to be addressed holistically

by Sandro Mangion

It is essential that the welfare reform and old age pensions dilemma is dealt with holistically, the chairman of the National Welfare Reform Commission Anthony Galdes told The Malta Business Weekly
yesterday.
Asked whether a specific deadline has been set by the commission to present the government with its final recommendations as to how the welfare gap should be reformed, Mr Galdes replied that very few appreciate the complexity of the problems which afflict this field. He said that although all commission members agree that changes in the system are a sine qua non, their different interests and agendas make it much more difficult than it might seem from the outside for an agreement on one set of recommendations to be reached.
The government set up the National Welfare Reform Commission in 1999 with the brief to establish the facts regarding the future of the current welfare structure, as well as to come up with sustainable solutions which can be implemented to address the situation. Sitting on the 13-strong Commission are representatives of the government, of the General Workers’ Union, of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions, of the Pensioners’ Association, of the employers and of the youth.
Last year the commission issued an ad interim report. In the
meantime, as pressure on the commission to come up with a final document comprising concrete recommendations mounted, Mr Galdes drew up a working document which was distributed to all members. The purpose of the document is to serve as the basis for a discussion which will eventually lead to the conclusion of the commission’s work.
“Many of, but not all, the members have come forward with their feedback on the working document,” Mr Galdes said. He added that the internal discussion will continue when the Commission meets again on Friday, 7 September.