SMEs deserve to be helped – Ivan Castillo

Small- and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy. In tough times, of which we have had many in the last decade, they have proved their resilience. It’s time for them be rewarded for their efforts, resilience and their can-do attitude. Above all, it’s time to encourage them to invest further in Malta’s economy, and create more and better paid jobs.

The Nationalist Party is determined to simplify bureaucracy for businesses and alleviate the financial burden that consumers have to shoulder. More and more employees, and self-employed are going through difficult times as their takehome pay and income continues to be squeezed by a rapid increase in the cost of living.

Thousands of small businesses earn slightly more than €30,000. Recently, Opposition leader Bernard Grech announced that a new PN government would extend this bracket to €60,000, meaning that they would no longer have to collect VAT from their clients to pass it on to the government. This follows several meetings that the Nationalist Party had, and continues to have, with small businesses.

Our proposal is the result of these meetings – we are, as a government-in-waiting, taking up their call. It’s time.