The Nationalists try to spin the idea that they are the party of the self-employed. As these operators are aware, however, this cannot but be further from the truth.

In reality, this government’s failed economic policy has resulted not only in a cash-starved administration, but also in a cash-starved economy. Their attempted solution has been twofold: on one hand they try to paint a rosy picture by playing with statistics and figures to create a false scenario of economic success, and secondly they persist on an ever-increasing tax burden.

In reality, this depicts a very sorry situation indeed, where our economy is ever-dependent on government spending. On the other hand, where this spending finally ends up is also clear. It ends up in the pockets of the relative few, with the unfortunate consequence that it leaves little effect on the economy as a whole.

Indeed, one here would have expected that the effects of massive government spending should have resulted in a much bigger rate of economic growth, but on the contrary it has at times shrunk the economy and recently it is conditioning the economy to a very low level of growth. One might here think that I am in the mood of giving a lecture on the economy, but sincerely this preamble is necessary in order to come to today’s main argument. Because, which economic sector really suffers from this embarrassing situation, if not that of the self-employed?

The Nationalist strategy in this regard is evidently wrong, for it is clearly failing our economy. In reality, it is the wage-earning families, and most of the self-employed, who are suffering the brunt. For, as a fact, if the overwhelming majority of spenders have less to spend, they will spend less. This in turn diminishes the income of most of our businesses and of our self-employed, and the decrease in tax that was announced in the last budget does not appear to be enough to get our economy out of this rut.

Labour clearly and strongly believes that the management of our economy should be tackled otherwise. Taking better care of the wage-earners will in turn generate the necessary economic environment for growth. It will give our self-employed the desired push to move on. We firmly believe that the self-employed are the backbone of our economy and these are gladly welcomed in the Labour Party.

We are convinced that with the creation of more employment, we will in turn be creating more space for the self-employed. This vital section of the economy is by far the most creative, innovative and energetic of our economy, and can very well be the driving force to get us out of the stagnant economic predicament that we are in. It is also obvious that the sector is heavily burdened with unnecessary bureaucracy and a heavy tax burden. Labour here promises that it will strive to create an environment in which this sector will operate in a much better way.

In its plans, especially the ones related to the economy, Labour clearly outlines the way forward. In the industrial plan, we set out that the creation of jobs is the linchpin of all our economic activities. The same is true of our vision statement on the self-employed, piloted by Dr Joseph Sammut. We have always been energetic in our economic and social endeavours. Labour in the 1970s and 1980s had proved successful in reducing Malta’s dependence on British and NATO defence spending. With the same energy, we will strive to get Malta out of its present economic predicament.

That is why in Labour’s plan on the self-employed, we stress that the sector will be given all the space and support necessary for it to operate in a far better way. We also strongly believe that with the required help, the sector could move forward. Labour will here endeavour to reduce the all-pervading administrative bureaucracy and the unnecessary tax burden, while setting in motion new and appropriate initiatives to help our self-employed, both on the individual and on the enterprise level.

With a reduction of the present burdens and with appropriate help, Labour seeks to promote the sector to new highs of efficiency, innovation and success. This not only for the benefit of the sector alone, but as a contribution to a better and ever improving quality of life benefiting all the Maltese society.

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Dr Michael Falzon is the MLP Deputy Leader for Party Affairs