During a press conference in Vittoriosa, the Co-Chair of the Greens-EFA Group in the European Parliament, Ska Keller, said: “Even if the existing Maltese tax system might not be in conflict with European law, it is clearly in breach of European solidarity and fairness. Tax schemes such as those that exist in Malta and several other EU Member States open the door for large-scale tax avoidance. That might not be illegal, but it is clearly immoral.”
“Member States have the responsibility to create EU legislation that would put an end to tax avoidance in the EU. The EU can no longer afford to accept national tax schemes that allow wealthy people and companies to dodge taxes in their home countries. We need serious reforms so that Malta and other Member States do not remain accomplices in tax avoidance. It is crucial for social justice in the EU that companies and wealthy individuals pay their fair share to finance good schools, social services, renewable energy and quality jobs.”
“There should be no place for money laundering in the EU. If Malta wants to remain a credible partner in the fight against dirty money, it needs to set up an independent and effective inquiry to get to the bottom of the current accusations of money laundering in the country. The EU should finally improve its anti-money laundering legislation to close existing loopholes and end this dirty business, no-matter where in Europe it takes place. As the current holders of the presidency in the Council, Malta has a special responsibility to move ahead with this important legislation.”
“The involvement of a leading government minister, Konrad Mizzi, and government official like Keith Schembri, allegedly even of the Prime Minister – but there is yet no concrete proof on this-, is being taken extremely seriously in the European Parliament. It is primarily in the interest of the Maltese people to get to the bottom of things, but the European Parliament also demands full transparency and accountability for any wrong-doing.”
Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said “Foreign companies setting up shop in Malta should also be respectful of workers’ rights and ensure that decent and just salaries are paid out. The recent scandalous discovery that Playmobil have been paying its sub-agents in Malta 3.99 Euros an hour, and that these sub-agents in turn pay their workers 2 Euros an hour, over 60% less than the established legal minimum per hour, is tantamount to modern slavery. Such abuses have to be eradicated if we are to enforce decent standards and quality of life in all countries of the supposedly progressive European Union.”
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Skartar tat-taxxi u trattament skandaluż tal-ħaddiema: theddida għall-ġustizzja soċjali
Waqt konferenza stampa l-Birgu, il-Ko-President tal-Greens-EFA Group fil-Parlament Ewropew, Ska Keller, qalet: “Anki jekk is-sistema ta’ tassazzjoni Maltija preżenti mhix f’kunflitt mal-liġi Ewropea, xorta qed tmur kontra l-kunċetti ta’ solidarjeta’ u ekwita’ Ewropej. Skemi tat-taxa bħal dawk li jeżistu f’Malta u f’bosta pajjiżi oħra tal-UE jiftħu l-bibien għal-skartar ta’ taxxi fuq skala kbira. Dan mhux illegali, imma huwa bla dubju immorali.”
“L-istati membri għandhom ir-responsabilita’ li joħolqu leġislazzjoni Ewropea li ttemm darba għal dejjem l-iskartar tat-taxxi fl-UE. L-Unjoni Ewropea ma tistax tkompli taċċetta skemi ta’ taxxa nazzjonali li jippermettu lil nies u kumpaniji sinjuruni li jevitaw il-ħlas tat-taxxi f’pajjiżhom. Għandna bżonn riformi serji biex Malta u stati membri oħra ma jibqgħux kompliċi fl-iskartar tat-taxxi. Huwa kruċjali għall-ġustizzja soċjali fl-UE li kumpaniji u nies sinjuri iħallsu t-taxxa ġusta u dovuta biex jiġu ffinanzjati l-bini ta’ skejjel, is-servizzi soċjali, l-enerġija rinnovabbli u jobs ta’ kwalita’.”
“Ma għandux ikun hemm lok għal ħasil ta’ flus fl-UE. Jekk Malta trid tibqa’ partner kredibbli fil-ġlieda kontra l-flus maħmuġin, hemm bżonn li twaqqaf bord ta’ inkjesta effettiv u indipendenti biex jistħarrġu l-akkużi preżenti ta’ ħasil ta’ flus fil-pajjiż. L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha ttejjeb l-leġislazzjoni kontra l-ħasil tal-flus biex tagħlaq xi loopholes u ttemm dan il-business maħmuġ, jiġri fejn jiġri fl-Ewropa. Bħala l-president attwali tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea, Malta għandha responsabilita’ speċjali biex tagħti spinta lil din il-leġislazzjoni.”
“L-involviment ta’ Ministru tal-Gvern, Konrad Mizzi, u ta’ uffiċjal tal-Gvern għoli, Keith Schembri, allegatament saħansitra tal-Prim Ministru – anki jekk ma hemmx provi konkreti dwar dan – qed jittieħed b’serjeta’ kbira fil-Parlament Ewropew. Huwa primarjament fl-interess tal-poplu Malti li nsolvu din il-kwistjoni, imma l-Parlament Ewropew jitlob ukoll trasparenza u kontabilita’ sħiħa biex jinkixef kull qerq.”
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Il-kumpaniji barranin li jiftħu f’Malta għandhom ikunu rispettużi tad-drittijiet tal-ħaddiema u jiżguraw li jitħallsu salarji deċenti u ġusti. L-iskandlu riċenti tal-Playmobil jikxef kif din il-kumpanija qed tħallas lis-sub-aġenti tagħha f’Malta 3.99 Ewro fis-siegħa. Dan ifisser li s-sub-aġenti minn naha taghhom qed iħallsu lill-ħaddiema tagħhom bejn 1.90-2 Ewro fis-siegħa, jiġifieri xi 60% anqas minn dak stipulat bil-liġi għall-paga minima. Dan m’huwa xejn ħlief skjaviżmu modern. Dawn l-abbużi hemm bżonn li jiġu eradikati jekk irridu ninfurzaw standards deċenti u kwalita’ ta’ ħajja aċċettabbli fl-istati kollha tas-suppost Unjoni Ewropea progressiva.”
