More to come from Labour government - Muscat

Addressing Labour supporters in Hamrun on the occasion of May Day, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said that the new government's first 50 days in power were the prelude to the rest of the government's term.

"We will not allow anyone to lose contact with the people or get complacent...we will be the people's government," Muscat told the modest crowd gathered outside the party headquarters in Hamrun.

He said the government will not lose any time in criticising its predecessor but would be concentrating on getting the job done.

 "The government will not complain about the state of affairs of what we inherited but we are committed to implement our promises," Muscat said.

Government would be increasing investment in scholarship programmes, including Masters' studies programme which would see a €700,000 increase in its funding.  

"This is what we are here for, we are here to invest in you the people, we are here to invest in our young people. These plans were not in our programme; however we have done all this in the first 50 days."

On the controversial appointments which have characterised the first weeks of the new Labour government, Muscat said the criticism was "unjust". Muscat said there was nothing wrong in having Labourites being awarded jobs with government entities, quipping "don't Labourites have a right to work?"

He said "I will defend the government's courageous decisions to engage people who do not agree with us," adding that the government would not change its attitude to work together with whoever was willing to work with it, whatever their political beliefs were.

He lashed out at the Nationalist Opposition's refusal to sit on government bodies, saying that the Labour government will rise beyond partisan pique in the best interest of the country.

In a clear reference to the Nationalist Government's previous record in government, Muscat said that Labour "will not take 25 years to implement the electoral programme."

He added that one of the government's main priorities was that of creating productive jobs in the private sector which would allow families to advance.

Turning his attention to precarious jobs, Muscat said that his government has already sent a clear sign to employers "who play around with workers' rights, who will no longer be eligible to win government contracts" unless they change their ways.

The government would be giving employers time to make things right before being excluded from government contracts. "This is a cry of freedom for all workers who will be allowed to join a union and they will be able to join the union of their choice."

Muscat said that "making work pay" by improving working conditions was the way forward in fighting precarious jobs.

He added those 12 months ago, the Labour Party was alone in calling for a youth guarantee providing education training and employment for young persons.

Muscat said the Labour government would be making the best use possible of EU funds to implement the youth guarantee which would provide a better quality of life for young people.

The PL leader said he was surprised by the number of teachers who contacted the education minister or the Prime Minister's Office pointing out the state in which old schools were in, adding that the government would treat all students equally.

Muscat said the government would be maintaining its promise to give students computer tablets which played a central part in the plan to improve the skills of all students.