I couldn’t agree more

When I became ‘tal-post’, this same economist had supervisors running after us to build up our production for the princely sum of eight pounds a week. Now, in his dotage, those days long gone, here he is, advising Caritas on raising the minimum wage to 180 euros a week.

As the saying goes “KULLHADD GALANTOM BI FLUS HADDIEHOR”. It’s obvious he no longer runs a factory.

‘The problem lies with the people who accept these terms’. I can assure you that if push comes to shove and you have 3 children to support you will accept such terms, at least until something better can be found. Don’t even try to deny this, please.

Every time the minimum wage in Malta was increased after its introduction it was through COLA, so although the percentage narrowed the actual amount did not.

I do not know how long you’ve been around but I was on the shop floor when it was introduced in Malta and do remember some grumbling and at least my then employer adjusted wages accordingly.

I also remember when the minimum amount of leave days was introduced and some of us lost up to a week leave which was gained by others.

Mister,

The minimum wage in Malta (and in the rest of the world) has had an increase quite a few times, but never have I read that the people whose wages then matched the increased minimum wage demanded an increase in their wages specifically because of the minimum wage increase.

Then again, perhaps I’m giving people too much credit. After all, some have demanded sillier things.

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard one woman say to another (at the supermarket) that the bank wouldn’t give her a loan to pay off her huge mobile phone bill.

In my parents’ time I remember them worrying about the thought of considering to get a loan to purchase a shop or a house. Now that we’re over that and that people’s relationship with money and loans seems to have become so relaxed, here they go, rush to the bank to apply for loans to pay for debt.

I think the banks should stick a sign on their doors: ‘loan applications to pay off debt will be rejected outright’. Would save them precious time.

I understand you do live in Malta.

Erm, Kenneth…. don’t dismiss this argument so fast.

This is your correct mindset thinking here…. but go explain it to a few people…. and you`ll start getting mixed answers to your reasoning.

Whilst I agree that a minimum wage rise shouldn’t automatically trigger this reaction, I still think it could be a possibility.

Back on Daphne’s point, some people don’t even know what they spend per month, yet they look at what they earn. They don’t see what leaves their pocket, but then they complain when it is empty.

Say this is a typical adult breakdown:

Cigarettes: Half a pack per day ( € 4 x 183 times ) = € 732
Mobile phone topup: € 20 x 12 months = € 240
Go / Melita Home Pack: € 33 x 12 months = € 396
Sports Channel? Only € x amount per month.
Flat Screen TV? Only € x amount per month.
and so on and on.

And for the young clubbers, let’s break that down:
Bus to Paceville: € 1.50
Taxi from Paceville to home: € 2.50
5 drinks @ € 2.50 €12.50
Burger bic-chips € 4.50
Total € 21 x 2 nights a week € 42

€ 42 x 52 weekends = € 2184 a year!

Poor?… Malta is far from poor! We are just wasteful and we dont even know it.

Now that means the priorities are wrong.

At least they buy corned beef. Some people don’t even buy meat (because they can’t afford it because they put stupid priorities before their basic needs). Corned beef provides ‘some basic’ nutritional value.