Yesterday, the Labour Party presented the final versions of five social plans it will be submitting for approval by the party’s general conference due to be held next weekend.

Speaking at a press conference, Labour leader Alfred Sant said the party is committed to give the National Commission on the Family the necessary resources to develop a national policy on the family.

As regards the Children’s Commissioner, a Labour government will give this Ombudsman powers to hear complaints by children and provide a remedy. The National Council for Children will provide an ongoing national policy for children and a Children’s Department will be set up to help the council in its work.

Labour is committing itself to introduce more family friendly work practices in the government sector and to encourage the private sector to do likewise.

As regards the elderly, a Labour government will urge local councils to set up a register of the elderly while the Kartanzjan will be given more importance than it has today. A Labour government will strengthen the day centre system, create the first pilot project of a night centre and encourage families to foster an elderly person.

A Labour government will strengthen male-female equality on the political, economic and administrative levels.

As regards youths, a Labour government will set up a fund for ongoing training of workers. It will reduce the taxes on the first house to be used as the only residence of the couple and it increase VAT refunds on labour and material for the first house. It will also develop an incentive system through which young people will not pay National Insurance for the first two years after they set up a business.

Labour will tackle inflation head-on, Dr Sant promised, and it will strive to put part-time workers on the same level as full time workers, including pensions. The ETC will be made more dynamic and will focus its

energies on training and job placements.