Two months of free utilities, a moratorium on loan and interest repayments as well as an extension to the COVID-19 wage supplement are among proposals the Nationalist Party announced on Monday. 

Speaking at a press conference held at the PN headquarters in Pieta, deputy leader Robert Arrigo observed that a number of countries had placed restrictions on travel to Malta, a development which could hurt the economy. He called for swift action to counteract the damage. 

Arrigo warned that several economic recovery measures introduced by the government were about to expire, amid a resurgence of the virus within the community. He, therefore, urged the authorities to implement the PN's proposals to avoid economic devastation, particularly in the tourism industry. 

He said that the PN is proposing:

• Waiving of payment for water and electricity bills for two months, with a 50% reduction on bills for the subsequent 12 months;
• Extending the expiry of the €100 government vouchers till the end of the year and expanding them to include groceries; 
• Extending the €800 wage supplement till the end of March 2021 for all private industries;
• People of trust employed by the government should accept a pay cut and reduction of benefits, and that income should instead be donated to food banks;
• Assuring contracts between local airlines and foreign tour operators in countries that have no restrictions to Malta to make up for the reduction of tourism from other markets;
• Obligatory wearing of masks, everywhere, by every person; 
• Extending the moratorium on bank loan repayments till the end of March 2021;
• Keeping the base interest rates for banks at 1.75%; 
• A 50% reduction on all Government taxes;
• Up to 5% reduction of VAT; 
• Introducing 0% VAT for the accommodation industry during the winter months;
• The introduction of a health passport for all travellers; 
• Obligatory COVID-19 screening for every air and sea travel arrival;

"We have worked extensively with industry stakeholders to understand the needs of the sector and come up with feasible proposals for an industry that is the lifeblood of many workers," Arrigo said. 

"In light of the serious situation Malta finds itself in, with respect to tourism from some of its biggest markets, and with the winter months fast approaching, we are asking for the implementation of these proposals."

Warning that the government had made light of, and chosen to ignore some of the PN's early proposals for economic recovery, only to implement them later, Arrigo urged the government to be sensitive to the needs of the industry.