The creation of opportunities, help and investment in people and more reforms that strengthen the rights of workers among them, remain three principles that will continue to be embraced in our work, was the message from Prime Minister Robert Abela when he met with members of the National Council of the General Workers’ Union (GWU).
At the Workers’ Memorial Building, the City, Prime Minister Abela said that our country must continue to create the opportunities enjoyed by Maltese and Gozitan workers. He said that with a dynamic economy that continues to grow, we can continue to improve workers’ conditions and continue to push social mobility. The Prime Minister said that the economic growth continues to lead to social progress accompanied by full support to the workers including with strategic decisions that the government is taking with the help in favor of stability in energy prices.
“This aid is the biggest measure that the government is taking by not throwing the burdens on the families. This is a policy that weighs on your members”, pointed out the prime minister with the representatives of the workers and he notes that this aid policy that the government is running with must be removed by the opposition. The prime minister also explained that the investment in people must remain linked to other work that helps in the income of workers. Here he referred to the many measures carried out and strengthened including the in-work benefit, which through not only its expansion but even an increase, saw five times more workers enjoying their income. This is compared to a few years ago.
Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the in-work benefit will continue to improve in the coming budgets as promised in the work program ‘Malta Flimkien’. He also mentioned the guarantee for children including the increases in the children’s allowance that have already been given and will continue to be given. Regarding social justice and that in the labor sector, the prime minister pointed out more changes and reforms that are being carried out to further strengthen workers’ rights. Here he mentioned the strengthening of parental and carers’ leave, the reform of platform workers and the establishment of the Low Wage Commission, whose aim is to review the national minimum wage.
Prime Minister Abela also heard the experiences of so many workers that the members of the council represent and while he delivered a word of courage, he appreciated the work of the workers’ representatives who work in favor of the interests of the employees.
Before the address in the council, which was also attended by Ministers Silvio Schembri and Miriam Dalli, Prime Minister Abela met with the leadership of the GWU and with the secretaries of the respective sections.
