Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today apologised for a comment he made last week with regard to foreigners working in Malta, saying that the way he delivered his message was not what he meant to say.

Last week, during a televised debate with Opposition Leader Adrian Delia, Muscat had said that he would rather see foreigners doing manual labour in the sun than Maltese, spurring a controversy about what many described as a racist remark.#

Muscat said: “I want the Maltese youths to take the skilled jobs. When I have a choice, my choice is that the Maltese become doctors, teachers and managers, and then I would bring in foreigners to go to work in the sun all day. If possible I don’t want Maltese people to go and pick up rubbish outside. All work is dignified, but I don’t want a situation where foreigners are comfortable and the Maltese break their backs,” the Prime Minister said.

Replying to questions this morning, Muscat said that he understands that the comment he made was insensitive and he apologised for it. What he wanted to say, he said, is that he would like all Maltese workers to be skilled.

The PM said he understood that his comment may have offended people and he apologised for it, adding that the way his message was delivered was not what he meant.