The highlight of our work remains the people where there is a path that takes them forward and not sets them back. This was the important message delivered by Prime Minister Robert Abela when he addressed an international conference, part of the Congress that is also being convened on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the General Workers’ Union.
Prime Minister Robert Abela noted major changes that were made where the GWU was at the forefront to improve the situation of the workers. He stressed that the world changes but the principles always remain, including a decent income and excellent working conditions for workers, better living for families and wealth being distributed fairly to everyone. The Prime Minister Robert Abela said that over the years the situation changed for the better not by chance but because the country had strong progressive forces leading it.
Dr. Abela defined the GWU as a social movement that also changed for the better the recognition towards the worker. “Every human being has the right to enjoy a decent and healthy life and equally should have access to as many opportunities as possible to improve their situation”, stressed the Prime Minister and he notes how during a pandemic, the Government did not cut for the right as it did not happen in a much smaller crisis, namely that of 2008.
Instead the Government really put the people at the center of its work and during a pandemic it safeguarded the livelihood of thousands of workers and feared for their jobs. The Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that if our predecessors did not believe that tomorrow could be better if today we are not living their dream. “We inherit that zeal and spirit to keep looking forward with important decisions in which we bring security where there is insecurity”, said Dr Abela.
With this the Prime Minister meant that as a country we will not be closed within ourselves but bring about a change that rides on the digital and environmental hearts, the center of the Government’s vision. The Prime Minister pointed out that the life of workers does not end as soon as they retire and that is why the principle of the welfare state is important and embraced by the Government because it must continue to give dignity even to pensioners.
Above all, the Prime Minister noted that the GWU continues to be an important partner in the social dialogue that gives a bright future to our children in areas that everyone touches in life such as the environment, equality, work and the – rest “In a few words, everything that revolves around the quality of life”, pointed out Prime Minister Abela and he stresses that Malta continues to grow stronger.
Meanwhile, before his address, at the Workers’ Memorial Building, Prime Minister Robert Abela met with the President of the European Economic and Social Committee Oliver Röpke. The meeting discussed the importance of social dialogue and also the involvement of young people in it. The General Secretary of GWU Josef Bugeja also attended the meeting.
