Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/680790
6 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 An el- derly couple on a pension re- quires only €6,527 a year, which is accommodated by the national minimum pension. This sum doesn't take into account health and mobility related costs that they would be likely to have to fork out. However, McKay warned that households who earn figures above that benchmark shouldn't be considered as free from pov- erty, as Caritas' study was a very conservative one. Indeed, the essential costs tak- en into calculation were hous- ing, food, clothing, personal care, health, education, leisure, transport, household goods and laundry, internet and mobile phones. It was based on the assump- tion that the low-income earners live in social housing, are Pink Card holders, and receive the maximum of state subsidies and benefits applicable to them – in- cluding food and medicine aid and energy rebates. It also assumes that the people are healthy, that they make use of public health, education and transport services, and that their leisure activities are free. "Frills" such as holidays, alco- hol, book purchases, club mem- berships, donations, tobacco, car maintenance costs, pocket money, hi-fi equipment, newspa- pers, pet costs, games and toys, watches, insurance cover and gifts were not factored in. Neither does the study take in- to account costs related to spe- cial dietary requirements, dis- ability, mental health or chronic conditions, specific needs of ethnic groups, and ferry prices for Gozitans. Food was by far the most sig- nificant cost in the calcula- tions– accounting for €6,211 out of the first family's budget, €4,604 out of the second family's budget, and €2,945 out of that of the retired couple. Food prices were based off menus designed by nutritionists for people on a tight budget who want to keep healthy. McKay noted that the price of food has shot up by around 16% since the last time Caritas con- ducted a similar study back in 2011. Inf lation on food was 16% between 2011 and 2015. The study includes quotes by Pope Francis against neoliberal- ism and trickle-down economic policies, such as: "The promise was that when the glass was full, it would overf low, benefiting the poor. What happens instead is that when the glass is full, it magically gets bigger, but noth- ing ever comes out for the poor." How the political parties reacted Alternattiva Demokratika was the first to react, throwing their weight behind Caritas' call for a hike in the minimum wage. "By simply giving out benefits, government is subsidizing cheap labour and encouraging auster- ity," spokesperson Mario Mallia said. "The difference in income between the current minimum wage and dependence on bene- fits is not such as to persuade the dependent to seek employment. It does not pay to work since both dependency on social ben- efits, as well as on the minimum wage, the risk of poverty remains considerably high. In both cases, the revenue is not even enough for the essential minimum." Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat said in a tweet that he would welcome a debate on the mini- mum wage. He added that the report shows a "drastic improvement" in ac- cessibility and affordability of health and transport for the el- derly. The Nationalist Party said that the report proves that poverty has increased under Labour, despite Muscat's pre-electoral pledge to eradicate it. "This shows that government has completely lost its social conscience and that it is using all of its attention on scandals such as the Panama case, rather than on families living in pov- erty," it said in a statement. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2016 News Notice to all Public Registry Searches Clients Kindly note that as from the 30th May, Front Office and Prezentata will move to Strait Street, corner with Archbishop Street. Office Hours will remain the same. Searches, 149, Strait Street, Valletta Tel: 25904711/15/17 NOTICE I, Gillian Caruana residing at 47, St. John Baptist Street, Sliema, ID 70868M, declare my intention to register for an Employment Agency Licence in accordance to Article 23 of the Employment and Training Services Act, 1990 (XXVIII of 1990). The activities proposed to be carried out are the following: 1. Recruitment consultancy. 2. Interviewing, selection and placements of candidates in employment. 3.Recruitment of persons from abroad for employment in Malta or in any EU member state. 4. Recruitment of persons in Malta for employment in Malta or in any EU member state. 5. Advertising of the filling of vacancies. 6. Keeping a register of applicants for employment. Registered office : Flat 6, Savoy Court, Reggie Miller, Street, Gzira. Food costs up by 16% since 2011 Alternattiva Demokratika threw its weight behind Caritas' call for a hike in the minimum wage Montenegrin Prime Minister visits Malta today THE Prime Minister of Monte- negro, Milo Djukanovic, is due in Malta today for official talks with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Following bilateral meetings between the two delegations, a signing of a memorandum of understanding in the health sector will follow. Djukanovic will also visit the site of the new power station in Delimara. In January last year, Malta and Montenegro also signed a dec- laration on economic and tech- nical cooperation between the two governments. Last January Muscat – accom- panied by then energy minister Konrad Mizzi – visited the Mo- zura mountain in Montenegro where Enemalta, Shanghai Elec- tric Power, Envision Energy and Vestigo will be building a wind farm project. While in Malta, Djukanovic will also visit the Upper Barr- akka Gardens and St John's co- Cathedral in Valletta. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Montenegro prime minister Milo Djukanovic