Momentum is calling on the government to address a long-standing injustice in the country’s pension system that unfairly penalises young workers between the ages of 16 and 18.

Under Malta’s Social Security Act Cap. 318, pension contributions are only officially counted from the week a person turns 18, even though many young people start working and paying social security contributions as early as age 16.

Dr Matthew Agius, an executive member of Momentum, said, “This is a clear form of age discrimination. Young people who start working at 16 or 17 contribute to the economy, pay taxes, and fulfil all their obligations like any other workers, yet their pension contribution clock doesn’t start ticking until they’re 18. That’s two full years of hard work that simply vanish from their future pension entitlement.”

Momentum notes that this inequity is further compounded by the increasing retirement age, which currently stands at 65 and may continue to rise in the years ahead.

“It is deeply unfair that young people are expected to work longer into their lives, yet the system denies them recognition for the work they do at the very start of their careers,” added Dr Agius.

Momentum therefore proposes that the two years between ages 16 and 18 should be included in the calculation of pensionable contributions for all individuals in gainful employment. This reform would ensure fair and equal treatment across generations, while recognising the economic and social contribution that Malta’s young workforce makes from the outset of their employment journey.

Momentum hopes that such a measure will be included in the upcoming national budget, as a concrete step towards eliminating this inequity and building a fairer, more inclusive pension system for all workers.

“We are also proposing the entrenchment in our Constitution of non-discrimination on the basis of age”, concluded Dr Agius.

Video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/786800744065695

Momentum jitlob li tintemm id-diskriminazzjoni kontra ħaddiema żgħażagħ; jipproponi li n-non-diskriminazzjoni minħabba l-età tiġi integrata fil-Kostituzzjoni.

Momentum qed jappella lill-gvern biex jindirizza inġustizzja li ilha teżisti fis-sistema tal-pensjonijiet, li tikkastiga b’mod inġust lill-ħaddiema li għandhom bejn 16 u 18-il sena.

Skont l-Att dwar is-Sigurtà Soċjali ta’ Malta Kap. 318, il-kontribuzzjonijiet tal-pensjoni jingħaddu uffiċjalment biss mill-ġimgħa li persuna tagħlaq 18-il sena, anke jekk ħafna żgħażagħ jibdew jaħdmu u jħallsu l-kontribuzzjonijiet tas-sigurtà soċjali sa mill-età ta’ 16-il sena.

Dr Matthew Agius, membru ta’ l-eżekuttiv ta’ Momentum qal “Din hija forma ċara ta’ diskriminazzjoni minħabba l-età. Iż-żgħażagħ li jibdew jaħdmu ta’ 16 jew 17-il sena jikkontribwixxu għall-ekonomija, iħallsu t-taxxi, u jissodisfaw l-obbligi kollha tagħhom bħal kwalunkwe ħaddiem ieħor, iżda l-arloġġ tal-kontribuzzjoni tal-pensjoni tagħhom ma jibdiex jimmarka qabel ma jkollhom 18-il sena. Dawn huma sentejn sħaħ ta’ xogħol iebes li sempliċement jisparixxu mill-intitolament futur tal-pensjoni tagħhom.”

Momentum jinnota li din l-inugwaljanza hija aggravata aktar mill-età tal-irtirar li qed tiżdied, li bħalissa hija ta’ 65 sena u tista’ tkompli tiżdied fis-snin li ġejjin.

“Huwa inġust ħafna li ż-żgħażagħ huma mistennija jaħdmu aktar f’ħajjithom, iżda s-sistema tiċħadilhom għarfien għax-xogħol li jagħmlu fil-bidu nett tal-karriera,” żied Dr Agius.

Għalhekk Momentum jipproponi li s-sentejn bejn l-eta’ ta’ 16 u 18 għandhom jiġu nklużi fil-kalkolu tal-kontribuzzjonijiet pensjonabbli għall-individwi kollha f’impjieg bi qligħ. Din ir-riforma tiżgura trattament ġust u ugwali bejn il-ġenerazzjonijiet, filwaqt li tirrikonoxxi l-kontribut ekonomiku u soċjali li l-ħaddiema żagħżagħ Maltin jagħmlu mill-bidu tal-vjaġġ tax-xogħol tagħhom.

Momentum jittama li miżura bħal din tiġi nkluża fil-baġit nazzjonali li ġej, bħala pass konkret lejn l-eliminazzjoni ta’ din l-inugwaljanza, u l-bini ta’ sistema ta’ pensjonijiet aktar ġusta u nklussiva għall-ħaddiema kollha.

Qed nipproponu wkoll li n-nondiskriminazzjoni abbażi tal-età tiġi integrata fil-Kostituzzjoni tagħna”, ikkonkluda Dr Agius.

Video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/786800744065695

There is hope, you can help!

Join Momentum and build a better Malta. Volunteer, donate, or subscribe today!