Labour leader 'knew of salary raise' in 2010 - PN whip

Nationalist organ In-Nazzjon’s front page reports Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s agreement as early as mmid-2010 on a salary raise for ministers. that was to be extended to former ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

The newspaper said Muscat was aware of the increase in ministerial salaries well before December 2010, according to a document from the Association of former Members of Parliament presented to parliament’s welfare committee.

The document, tabled on 20 April 2010 by the association’s secretary Lino Debono, a former Labour MP, was revealed by Nationalist whip David Agius on PBS Friday.

The document was agreed upon by the deputy prime minister as Leader of the House, the Opposition leader and the two whips.

In-Nazzjon says Muscat was aware of the document’s contents, which refers to “the salary raise awarded to ministers and parliamentary secretaries for their work as Members of Parliament, must be extended for purposes of pensionable income even former ministers and parliamentary secretaries.”