GWU Wants Stabbilità Fil-Prezzijiet Food Scheme To Continue Next Year
The General Workers’ Union has urged the government to extend the ‘Stabbilità Fil-Prezzijiet’ food price-cutting scheme into the new year.
Prime Minister Robert Abela previously suggested that scheme won’t be extended in the upcoming Budget because it has “served its purpose” and the national inflation rate has dropped to “acceptable” percentages.
However, the GWU is urging the government to reconsider its position.
Launched last February, the scheme saw food importers and retailers agree to reduce the recommended retail price (RRP) of 15 basic food items by 15% and to shoulder the difference between them.
It impacted products such as minced beef, cream crackers, frozen chicken, frozen vegetables, long-life milk, chips, coffee, and pasta.
Other proposals listed by the GWU for the 2025 Budget include:
-Their longstanding proposal for workers to automatically be enrolled in a trade union of their choice
-More prudent spending of public finances to ensure that wealth creation benefits the most vulnerable and is distributed equitably.
-Continuation of government subsidies on energy and fuel
-Revision of labour laws to better protect remote and hybrid workers, with double pay for work on Sundays and public holidays
-The provision of mental health first-aiders in every workplace
-Increased parental leave
-Higher pensions
-Stricter emission standards, subsidies for electric vehicles and more green spaces
-Extending the Equity Sharing scheme for low-income people
-More funding on social housing t address rising housing costs
-More investment in infrastructure in Gozo, including roads and parking facilities
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