Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/212250
24 Opinion maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2013 Evarist Bartolo Hard work pays off Finance Minister Edward Scicluna T he first budget of any government usually involves the new administration unleashing a number of negative measures in order to cut costs and save money to fork out in later years. Over the years we have become accustomed to politically-fuelled budget speeches in which we are told that hard decisions had to be taken, the results of which would be seen in the penultimate and last budget before an election. In this budget all this was thrown out of the window. Instead, the government presented a budget that makes work pay. We have grown accustomed to policies which take away incentives to work. In some cases people were better off in the past, as they were allowed not to do anything. We had a system in which the ones who were doing the actual work were told not to do any extra as they'd be taxed heavily, and others not in work were told that they shouldn't move an inch. This had to change. This is very much a budget for those who wake up every morning and open their shop shutter, for those who at the end of the month work that extra overtime shift to in order to make ends meet, for those who want to work but because, for some reason or another, are not equipped to do so. It's also the budget for those women who, after starting a family, want to return to work but have found Previously, we had a system in which the ones who were doing the actual work were told not to do any extra as they'd be taxed heavily, and others not in work were told that they shouldn't move an inch too many obstacles in the way. It's the budget for hundreds of youths who have never worked in their lives and need the focus to take up a training course to equip them with skills for the job Career Opportunity: Horizon 2020 Programme National Contact Point The Malta Council for Science and Technology is Malta's national contact point organisation for Horizon 2020. MCST is currently seeking to recruit executives to act as National Contact Points/Programme Committee delegates in various areas of specialisation. The Horizon 2020 Programme National Contact Point will form part of the Horizon 2020 Unit, and will be assisting researchers and organisations, who wish to submit projects under H2020 calls, through tailored support. A considerable amount of travelling will be involved. A Master's Degree, or higher, preferably in a science or engineering subject, or a recognised appropriate comparable qualification, together with two years of relevant work experience, preferably in Research or Consultancy. MPO Permit Number: MPO/269/2005/04 ETC Permit Number: 93/2013 Applications, including Europass CV's, will be received until the 24th of November 2013, and should be addressed to mario.g.borg@gov.mt. The Malta Council for Science & Technology is the government body responsible for research policy, promoting scientific research, management of the local research funding programme and is the national contact point organisation for the EU Research Framework Programme (FP). Malta Council for Science & Technology Villa Bighi, Kalkara, KKR 1320 – Malta Tel: 2166 0340 Fax: 2166 0341 market. More than €4 million will be invested in the childcare centres proposal. Through a publicprivate partnership, we'll be opening the door for parents to return to work. However this is not a parking space where to leave your children – the government is making sure that these centres will offer a stimulating educational experience of the highest level. The Youth Guarantee will offer 350 youths one-on-one focus to find out why at such a young age, they are considered long-term unemployed and to make sure they do not remain as such for the rest of their lives, at a huge cost to the taxpayer. The reasons for such youth long-term unemployment usually boil down to unemployability: that is, not having the right skills for the job market. The Youth Guarantee, which is an EU initiative, aims to reverse this youth unemployment trend across Europe. Comparatively, Malta does fairly well, but still needs to tackle this area. Above all, the investment in education and employment in this budget is the largest one ever, and proves the government's commitment to ensure that hard work pays off. Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education