Addressing a pre-budget public consultation meeting, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna this evening said that social protection systems promote an equitable and inclusive society, however they may give rise to dependency and passivity, and are prone to fraud and other abuse.

 

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He said that over the past 15 months, the government had introduced measures that encourage more people to enter the workforce and contribute to society. The government will ensure that further incentives will steer people away from dependency, and encourage them to take on any available opportunities. This will allow the government to ensure sustainability of pensions, stipends and free health care.

 

 

Prof. Scicluna said that the private sector is the driving force of economy, and contrary to what the opposition is claiming, employment in the public sector has not increased, but rather remained stable.

 

    

  

 

– Monday, 15th September, 2014