For the first time in history, the number of people on social assistance in November and December 2019 dropped below 7,000, a government statement said today.

The total number of people receiving such assistance in November stood at 6,986 and in December dropped to 6,928.

In December 2019, there were 6,315 people on social assistance, while there were a further 613 people on unemployment benefits.

These figures, the statement read, show a substantial reduction to the statistics from 2012, where in December that year there were 9,775 people who were receiving social assistance, and a further 4,174 on unemployment benefits, thus a total of nearly 14,000 people

“This means that the amount reduced by more than 50% in total.

Family Minister Michael Falzon said that these figures show the progress made in the country, “that is resulting in a better quality of life for the people.”

Minister Falzon said that these results are encouraging and were reached thanks to the many measures taken by the government, including the tapering of benefits and free child care, in addition to the country having a strong economy.