The wages of those working in iGaming centres is extremely different from the wages of those living in ditches, or those who are dependent on relief, PN MP Ivan Bartolo said on Wednesday.

Speaking in Parliament, Bartolo said that the Labour Party government is meant to be for the workers but it has changed drastically. The PL is is now full of Champagne Socialists, he said.  

“You cannot say that Malta is in your heart. Construction, development and corruption is in your heart, but not the people. Not the people who are living in garages, or people living in ditches, or pensioners; your heart is not there for them.” He commented that the Government continues to push for population growth but that it is not investing seriously enough for people; especially with regard to education.

Bartolo said that he goes around the island doing house visits and meeting people who are suffering in poverty, who are struggling to make ends meet. He also said that the living wage is not enough for those living in poverty, which is affecting people mentally and socially as they cannot afford their own homes.

“Like Minister Michael Falzon said, yes ideally everyone is a home owner, but as the property prices increase, how can this be possible?” Bartolo mentioned that people are even thrown out of their accommodation as they cannot afford the increasing rent prices, and are left homeless or families living in garages or caravans.

He said that there are Maltese and foreigners who are working hard but not managing and that the number of people without a roof over their head during the “L’Aqwa Zmien” is only increasing. “The more we wait around and do nothing the more people will suffer; those families not coping, the pensioners not surviving on their pensions, more and more people will suffer if we do not do something about it.”