Updated | Labour government to legislate on party financing

Additional reporting by Nestor Laiviera.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat denied his party's campaign was being "subsidised" by some company and added that such comments were "libelous".

Earlier today, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the PL has already spent €1 million on campaign. Gonzi also hinted at a done deal for Labour's prospective energy provider and said: "I ask whether Labour has a done deal... I calculate that the Labour campaign has until now cost €1 million. From where is Labour getting its money?"

Asked by MaltaToday to react to these comments, Muscat said: "I can assure the Prime Minister that we are not being subsidised by any company. I also worry that the Prime Minister doesn't know how to make his calculations."

Muscat went to say that the PL was the only party that published its accounts and will continue to do so.

"This means that whatever we are receiving and whatever we are spending will be made public. On the other hand, the PN administration has also failed to legislate on party financing."

Muscat added that a Labour government would be committed to introduce a party financing law in the "shortest time possible".

Muscat also pledged that a Labour government will lead by example on workers' rights by bar those companies which promote precarious work from applying for and receiving government tenders.

Muscat was speaking during a political activity held in the same street where both Nerik Mizzi and Manwel Dimech lived in Valletta. Opening his address, Muscat said that the location was chosen for its historical relevance.

"Both of them, despite hailing from different schools of thought, they both had the same vision regarding the concept of work," Muscat said. "Work is important for a population to grow and prosper."

"Malta was able to, today, become a Republic because it is a country built on work, and also a country that prospered under different governments," Muscat said.

To ensure further prosperity and stability in the field of employment, the Labour leader said that the PL is committed "to retaining those economic sectors that work."

At the same time, Muscat said that a Labour government would also look towards workers in precarious conditions "whose contract is legal, or verges on the illegal."

He said that three of Labour's proposals regarding the employment sector represent a commitment to improve training for workers, as well as incentives for people to continue training their skills.

He said that one such proposal consists of a youth guarantee that was announced several months ago, "which today is part of the conclusions of the European Council, and upon which there is consensus that every country in the EU would offer similar guarantees."

Regarding precarious work, Muscat said that a Labour government would lead by example.

He said that despite how the Nationalist Government had repeatedly promised to address the issue decisively, reality proved otherwise.

"A Labour government will disqualify from government tenders those companies which do not follow the necessary laws and practices related to employment."

Muscat stressed that a Labour government would also improve working conditions by setting a level playing field which favors employers who put good working practices into effect, while disqualifying those employers who employ workers on precarious conditions.

Muscat added that Labour would also work hand in hand with unions to develop a charter for workers' rights which would include employment legislation, and which would be distributed to citizens "so that they can know their rights, and what remedies they can seek."

"There are many workers, especially those who do not form part of a union, who are not aware of their rights," Muscat said.

"These are just three of our proposals," he added.