Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that parents who work full time are saving €6,000 annually in free childcare.

Dr Muscat was addressing supporters at the PL club in Gharghur. The local council election campaign is to officially kick-off on 8 March.

He said that this free service will eventually be dubbed one of the biggest achievements of this government.

Dr Muscat said that elections held in the middle of a government’s term are never easy “but we will try to get a small majority in the local council elections”.

Dr Muscat noted that it is the first time the rate of unemployment in Malta is so low. This, he said, means that the government is creating jobs. He also noted that a number of women were joining the labour force but this could only have been made possible as a result of the free childcare service and other family-friendly measures.

Dr Muscat said that the government will not be increasing the retirement age as a means to solve the problem of future pensions. He said that National Insurance contributions will not be increased either.

The only solution to the problem – which is not the easiest - is that more people join the workforce which will lead to more NI contributions paid, he explained.

 

Dr Muscat went on to say that one in three youths have found a job as a result of the Youth Guarantee Programme.