Throughout human history, we have faced the challenges and problems of inequality and its abuses. Subjugation of our fellow man has taken on every imaginable excuse to justify its existence. In the era where owning slaves was the norm, it was even justified via passages in the Bible. It is often only in retrospect that we realise where we went wrong.

History offers many lessons whose significance still echo today. In the 20th century, a long litany of social and political inequalities was faced, particularly with the breakdown of old forms of colonialism, as well as through emancipation, particularly of women. In the face of tragedy and hardship, people always find ways to come together again and to build.

It is in this spirit that we pay particular respect to the Maltese worker, whose love of family and community has allowed us to endure sieges, plagues and repression across the years. Rulers have come and gone, but the people of Malta and Gozo have remained. COVID-19 has posed new challenges in a changed world, but once again the ties that bind us have brought us this far, unbroken by social distancing. With the tremendous challenges posed by COVID-19, Worker's Day takes on a special significance this year.

Many will be plunged into poverty as a result of this pandemic. Those already suffering are likely to suffer more, as unemployment figures soar and competition for a shrinking number of jobs increases. Wages may stagnate or fall, and the allure of vices and destructive distractions and habits may grow greater than ever.

In Malta, the structures of society and our families have kept most of us steadfast during this crisis so far, but we must now pay special attention to those who were already most at risk of poverty, or already victims of it. According to the European Social Policy Network, the risk of in-work poverty in Malta was 5.9% in 2017, well below the EU average of 9.6%.

Nonetheless, their report on the matter highlighted the vulnerability of the worker to an economic shift, as the issue was not getting much attention and that therefore the approach may have been short-sighted. While resources are set to be in short supply, we cannot forget those most vulnerable in times of need and turn inwards. It is only through cooperation that we can step out of this crisis.

Rebuilding our economies is a global challenge, especially in the context of climate change. However, Malta and Gozo stand to benefit greatly from the European Union's Green Deal, which plans for member states to be carbon neutral by 2050. Malta has the possibility of leading in the energy sector, being strategically positioned to benefit from the shift to renewable energy. Our untapped resources, coupled with new technologies and the potential for research and innovation could make us an energy capital.

It simply requires governments to think long term, overcoming partisan differences to plan for a time when current politicians will no longer be reaping the rewards of the present. We must plan ahead, and make investments today for others in the future to benefit from.

With Worker's Day in mind, let us ensure that the rewards of our economy are reaped by the entire Maltese and Gozitan population, not by an elite few who in turn seize control over the machinery of political power. The past years have demonstrated how individuals and communities alike are not safe from the abuses of corrupt businessmen, ready to make money at any cost, trampling over all who oppose them.

Will we return to our old mistakes or develop a new economy that works for everyone? What lessons can we take with us from the pandemic into the future - such as by removing toil from workers through a more flexible working life, thanks to the Internet and technology? Will we learn the value of justice which is blind, protecting us all equally?

A crucial law is sitting on the shelf in Parliament for some time now that would take co-operatives to the next level. It has unfortunately been abandoned or forgotten by our parliamentarians. In the pursuit of a more ethical and sustainable economy which puts people first, this should be revived and prioritised. Moving forward, let us study the different forms such co-operatives can take and seek to emulate the success of Mondragon Corporation in Basque Country, Spain - one of the leading co-operatives of the world.

Let us look to ideas such as the development of Credit Unions; member-owned financial co-operatives, controlled by members and operated around the principle of putting people first and offering credit at competitive rates, as well as offering financial services. We must seek an economy that empowers workers, enriches the people while protecting and benefiting from a healthy and sustainable environment.

Together we can build an economy which works for everybody. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing and will continue to cause great suffering, and the hidden costs will be felt in joblessness and despair - but let that be a call to arms, a reason to seek solidarity and new solutions. If we do so, we may yet emerge stronger than ever before.