Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1213458
15 The MT view: Labour should consider changing its statute to ensure that one of its deputy leaders is always a woman. Social justice The Muscat administration deserves credit for introducing free childcare, tapering wel- fare benefits, removing exam fees and raising pensions. But while the working class has been spared austerity, inequal- ity is raising its head. Europe- an Commission statistics show that Maltese workers are re- ceiving a smaller share of their country's GDP than they were at the beginning of the decade. How can Labour boost its cre- dentials on its core issue? DJM: Together with social mo- bility and equality, social justice is essentially what the Labour Party stands for. Different times pose different challenges: the current times where Malta is experienc- ing unprecedented economic growth, the main challenge re- mains to ensure that this growth is with a purpose for all; that the fruits of our economy are distrib- uted with equity, prioritising the most vulnerable in our society. A lot has been achieved in this regard, but a lot of challenges remain especially in the housing and labour markets. The chal- lenges have changed during the last years and some are partially attributed to the growth we ex- perienced, but nonetheless those facing them rightly demand swift and bold action to better their quality of life. DA: The welfare state needs to be strengthened, and updated for modern realities. Low-income families and individuals should not benefit from piecemeal 'charity', but from structures that close the gap between the rich and the poor. I'd like to see, for instance, social security contri- butions reflecting the modern gig economy, and zero-hour contracts, which are a nightmare in terms of workers' rights. MB: Studies repeatedly show that the elderly and older females in particular, children and ethnic minorities remain particularly vulnerable to social injustice. La- bour has to proactively address social injustice through advocacy of increased and holistic invest- ment in lifelong learning, also to curtail welfare dependency in line with the party's principle that social progress is measured by the progress of society's most vulnerable. Areas of lifelong learning that need to be consol- idated include financial literacy, digital literacy and employabil- ity. Presently, state-funded life- long learning programmes are facing challenges that include integration of immigrants, age- ing population and pension sustainability. Yet many adult educators and trainers' working conditions are precarious: part- time, definite contracts without collective agreements and vague- ly recognised professional status. Maltese society is duty-bound to invest in people educating adults and vulnerable adults in particu- lar. As things stand, adult educa- tors' precarious status negatively role models the social injustices affecting their most vulnerable students. The MT view: A 'living wage' based on the recommendation of an independent panel should be established and as a start the government should include it as an obligation in public pro- curement. Employers who pay a living wage should also benefit from a quality mark certified by a public authority. Urban planning and the environment In order to kick-start a con- struction boom the Labour government embarked on pol- icies which accommodated the developers' lobby. The Muscat administration also continued the PN's policy of dishing out land cheaply to developers for speculation purposes. This led to decisions which sacrificed the well-being of local com- munities on the altar of private profit. How can Labour reclaim its environmental credentials? DJM: Joining planning and environment in one ministry is a step in the right direction to achieve balance, which is diffi- cult, and sometimes subjective too. Many a times we speak of the environment solely in terms of our countryside, whilst the urban environment in which we spend most of our time is normally overlooked. We need to look into bold decisions to provide a better living environment in our com- munities, and in some aspects a culture change is required. DA: The Planning Authority's local plans haven't been updat- ed since 2006. Their updating is the starting point if Govern- ment is serious about structural and sustainable planning. The Public Domain Act should be properly enforced, safeguarding our beaches, cliffs, and valleys and sites such as Manoel Island and the Inwadar Park at Żonqor Point, in Marsaskala. MB: A Labour Party branch solely dedicated to the advocacy of sustainable development could draw on good practices devel- oped by its successful branches that include FŻL, LEAD and Ni- sa Laburisti. Collaboration with councils may include participa- tory community-development pilot projects. and participatory mapping that democratises spa- tial representation and urban development, bringing local knowledge and perspectives to the attention of governmental authorities and decision-makers. The MT view: Government should introduce a national fund financed by a levy on building permits, to buy green enclaves located in urban centres to turn them into open public parks. Owners who relinquish these properties in a voluntary way should be given due recognition for civic responsibility. Democracy and governance Before 2013 Labour prom- ised "a second republic" and to govern according to the princi- ples of meritocracy. But since Panamagate, the country was gripped by an unprecedented institutional paralysis, which ultimately contributed to the meltdown of the Muscat ad- ministration. How can Labour restore trust in the institu- tions? DJM: The Constitutional re- form is undoubtedly an oppor- tunity to discuss a number of aspects which merit revisiting: the way debates are carried out at parliamentary level, measures to attract the best possible tal- ent to the political realm, further checks and balances and also timeframes within which insti- tutions are expected to give the necessary results… are some of the topics, which crop up regu- larly. DA: The Constitution was test- ed last year: frankly, it has failed us. Government needs to take a long, hard look at our prime law, and update it to meet the needs of a young democracy. In par- ticular, our Constitution needs to be secular, strong on the justi- ciability of social, economic, and environmental rights, and with a clear separation of powers. MB: The recent political crisis illuminated gaps that developed between Labour's principles (up- held by its genuine activists) and governance deficits. Bridging such gaps is key. Whilst Labour needs to create opportunities for its representatives in government to reach out to the party, the onus is also on the Labour MPs to seek and engage with such opportu- nities and seek guidance on how they can walk the talk that their Labour supporters and constit- uents elected them for. Labour should also spearhead a reform of improved remuneration for MPs, in consultation with stakeholders that include rival political parties. The MT view: A basic princi- ple of a democracy is that of no taxation without representation. In line with this principle, citi- zenship by naturalisation should be granted to all third country nationals who have worked and lived here for a minimum of five years and to all children who have completed a school cycle here. Aaron Farrugia's decision to start publishing a transpar- ency register listing all meetings with lobbyists and stakehold- ers should be applied across the board. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS From left to right: former Labour deputy mayor Desiree Attard, PL president Daniel José Micallef, and sociologist and LEAD participant Maria Brown