PN urges government to combat poverty as Labour outlines measures implemented

Marking the World Family Day, the Nationalist Party urged the government to address poverty and social exclusion. In a statement, the PN said that the poverty rate was on the rise. 

According to the PN, the wage squeeze was not helping to increase the standard of living and it committed itself to work hand-in-hand to ensure a better quality of life.

On its part, the Labour Party said the government took immediate action to address social exclusion and poverty, commenting that poverty for a PN administration had “merely been a perception”.

The Labour Party said the government implemented a number of measures to help those most in need: free childcare services, cheaper utility bills, introduction of child supplement, €35 bonus, fuel price stability, in-work benefits and the provision of new tools for businesses to expand their operations.

“All these budgetary measures made a difference in people’s lives. Although there are families and individuals who may not be feeling the wealth creating, the progress made is evident,” the PL said, adding that retail trade in Malta increased with the highest rate across the EU for the second consecutive month.

It said that, likewise, Central Bank figures indicate that deposits by Maltese in January amounted to a record €9.2 billion.