The principle of equal pay for equal work will be implemented in all government entities if Chris Fearne is elected Labour leader, and hence Prime Minister, he said.

Interviewed on Indepth by The Malta Independent Deputy Editor in Chief Neil Camilleri, Fearne said that this is an important measure which would see thousands of workers have their working conditions improved to the point that their income would allow them to move away from the poverty threshold.

Fearne was asked about what he would do to address criticism levelled against the Labour party,that it has moved away from its socialist values. Fearne said that the party has become one which appeals to a wide stretch of Maltese society - an appeal which, he said, has to be retained and even widened.

He said that he understands there are things which have to be done to improve the situation.

One measure he would implement if elected Prime Minister, he said, would be the principle of equal pay for equal work.

Today, he said, there are thousands of workers who are employed by contractors who then provide services to different entities within the government. These workers, he said, are doing the same work that other government workers do, but are paid less. He said that he would ensure that these workers are given the same working conditions, same basic wage, same overtime rate and allowances, so that way people are moved away from the precipice of poverty. 

He noted that there were 2,200 falling under this category in the health sector, and in recent years their pay had been brought up to match that which the government pays - a move that cost €6.3 million.

If elected Prime Minister, Fearne said, that idea would be spread to the rest of the government's departments and entities.  The cost of this measure across the government sectors would be €10 million.  "Can we afford that amount per year in order to help these people? Yes we can, that's why we have the surplus and that backs us up as the government which can help those most in need", he said. 

Another criticism levelled against the Labour government has been that it has too close ties with big businesses.  Asked about this, Fearne said that what is most important is that there is transparency and fairness.

He said that the economic model that the government had built is working and it has to remain in place. The model where government works with businesses, to facilitate them and encourage their investment and job creation must continue, he said.  "But we have to work with businesses, not be led by them; we have to be transparent and fair."

He noted that this would mean that equal opportunities must be given to everyone, and that it must be done in the most transparent manner possible.

The Labour leadership hopeful also committed to revising or cancelling the controversial hospital privatisation contract if the National Audit Office finds serious shortcomings, while he also committed to carrying out a serious analysis into the Individual Investor Programme once it reaches its cap.

He also excluded handing outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat a position on his cabinet if he is elected, but said that he did not think that Muscat's presence on the back benches will cast a shadow over the new Prime Minister.

Fearne is one of two candidates for the Labour Party's leadership post, and hence for the role of Prime Minister. The Malta Independent invited MP Robert Abela, who is the other candidate in the leadership race, for a similar interview but he has not accepted this invitation thus far.