Family ministry says Malta finally has the right attitude towards poverty

The family ministry has said that Malta has finally taken the right direction towards ending poverty in the country.

In a statement, the ministry added that the opposition’s criticism could never eliminate the positive figures obtained in this sector as Malta had achieved the first drop in poverty rates in the past ten years.

The ministry pointed out that according to an NSO study, the rate of poverty in 2014 was at 23.8%, which marked a drop from the 24% in the last year of the previous administration.

The statement added that although the government was proud of the figures it had achieved, it would work to increase economic activity and to give those with a low income more opportunities and support through a number of other measures in the upcoming budget.

“An increase in the weekly working hours as well as the increase in people’s pays left a very tangible positive effect,” the statement reads, adding that the number of those with an annual income of less than €5,100 had dropped from 13,400 to less than 10,000.