Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that through the Nationalist Party’s proposal of having two separate tax rates, he would create a whole new sector of precarious working conditions (prekarjat).

“Yesterday it was announced that the PN would have two separate tax rates, one for self-employed and another for all others,“ he said while addressing a political activity in Senglea.

When speaking to University students during today’s debate, the Prime Minister said that he looked on at the crowd of future professionals, and questioned that, under the PN’s proposal, if two architects earning the same wage, but one is self-employed and the other works within a company, what would happen?

The self-employed architect would pay far less tax than the architect who works for a company, he said.

Dr Muscat added that this would incentivise workers to falsely claim they are self-employed, which does not allow for sick leave, vacation leave and other benefits.

“Dr Busuttil would create a whole new sector of precarious working conditions”.

Dr Muscat failed to acknowledge this evenings latest allegation that was announed by Naitonalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil, where he said that he has evidence showing the PM's chief of staff Keith Schembri had received kickbacks worth €650,000 from the former director of Times of Malta Adrian Hilman. 

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat took a step back from the typical political event style of delivering a speech, and allowed for a discussion to take place between himself, new candidates and individuals who have benefitted from the Government’s civil liberty legislation throughout the past four years.

“I believe that Malta can be not just the best in Europe, but the best in the world,” the Prime Minister said when starting off the event.

Education and Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo said that at 25, he decided to join the Labour Party because he believed, and still does, in the principle of equality.

He said that in 1945, when Mr Paul Boffa had declared women to be equal to men and that they should also have a vote, it was the PN to say that it is too soon for such a move.

Drawing on his experience as one of two MPs who had presented a private members’ bill to introduce divorce, he questioned why the PN government of the day did not do its job and bring divorce into legislation, adding that once again the conservative party thought it was too soon.

He used his experience to illustrate the point that it takes a PL government to safeguard, protect and strengthen civil liberties and individual rights.

New candidate Nikita Zammit Alamango spoke about being one of the women who had filed a judicial protest in order to introduce the Morning After Pill. She also remarked that the IVF law which was brought into effect under a PN government does not go far enough, and proposed that the service should be available to homosexual couples.

Prime Minister Muscat said the successful civil liberty track record is not his, but belongs to everyone.

“This is the principle of equality. It is a principle that if it is left to the wayside, we would be betraying ourselves.”

He said that all those on the PL ticket know the party’s programme, and has accepted the agenda. With regards gay marriage, he said there is no need to put it on the electoral programme like the PN had to, because the law is ready and once Parliament commences it would be a quick process. He also said it would be a change in a name, because the rights are already there essentially with the civil union law.

A same-sex couple proudly and emotionally spoke of how the PL government delivered a dream where they could enter into a civil union, and will be able to get married in the near future once the law comes into effect, should the PL win the upcoming election on 3 June.

Dr Muscat, referring to the general election debate earlier today, said that the way in which Dr Busuttil spoke is symptomatic of the coalition of confusion (PN-PD), led by the most unstable couple in Malta’s political history (Dr Busuttil and Dr Farrugia).

Dr Muscat repeated criticism of Partit Demokratiku leader Marlene Farrugia when a PBS debate recording had to be stopped because she could not control herself and insisted on speaking over Minister Helena Dalli.

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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, after participating in the much anticipated University General Election debate, is now addressing a political activity in Senglea. You may follow the activity in the below link: