Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1140832
11.07.19 9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN COORDINATING EDITOR: PAUL COCKS CONTRIBUTING JOURNALISTS: MASSIMO COSTA | LIAM CARTER BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 JUST imagine running a multi-national company with a part-time management structure. It simply will not happen because the people running the show are expected to be fully focussed on their job. The irony is that in the running of the State, this country has allowed one of the more important functions to be delegated to part-timers. Malta's Parliament, where all legisla- tion is passed, is made up of part-time MPs. The inevitable consequence of this is the need of these MPs to boost their income by keeping their ordi- nary work. Apart from the practical consid- eration of having to split their time between the political and legislative work and their day job, it is not im- plausible for these MPs to find them- selves in uncomfortable positions as a result of their dual role. The situation was exacerbated in 2013 when the government changed legislation to allow the appointment of MPs to the role of chairpersons in various public authorities. This necessarily brings with it a con- flict. MPs whose job is to keep the ex- ecutive in check, were roped into po- sitions of authority within that same executive. The Standards Commissioner George Hyzler has now spelt out clearly what is wrong with MPs hav- ing paid jobs with government. But he also went one step further, proposing that MPs should be full-timers dedi- cated to their job. A full-time Parliament will give MPs greater autonomy to carry out their job independently. This will come at a cost. But democ- racy is in itself an expensive venture if all checks and balances are to func- tion well. It is everyone's interest to have MPs who are able to carry out adequate research, dedicate time to legislative work and position papers, be critical of the government and its agencies. And this benefits the business envi- ronment as well. A case in point was the Dragono casino lease extension last week that slipped through Parliament unques- tioned, let alone opposed. A full-time Parliament will give MPs financial independence, making them less dependent on donations and fa- vours from people in business. With- in this context, potential conflicts of interest can be properly regulated and enforced. Paying MPs a full-time wage can cut loose a lot of the shackles that condi- tion what MPs say and how they act but it is no sure guarantee that they will function optimally. At the end of the day, just like any other job, it also depends on the indi- vidual qualities of the MPs and their respect for righteousness. With Malta Inc. striving to improve its infrastructure and aim for better quality all around, it is high time that the country's governing structures, including Parliament, live up to this new paradigm. A vibrant democracy that seeks to constantly fine-tune its functioning requires its MPs to be focussed on their job. A discussion on the matter cannot be postponed for ever because of past hang ups over the Gonzi government's ill-timed decision to increase parlia- mentary and ministerial wages, a dec- ade ago. A transparent discussion should take place now. Malta Inc. cannot function with part-timers