It all started 100 years ago when twelve gentlemen dreamt of creating a new movement that championed workers’ rights. Equality and social justice were at the forefront of their vision for the country. Their movement was called Partit tal-Ħaddiema.
One hundred years later that movement is still going strong. It has developed into what we now refer to as Partit Laburista. Over the years, many things have changed. The name for instance and the social make-up of the party has also changed drastically thanks to the thousands of men and women from all walks of life who joined the movement. What hasn’t changed are the core principles that this movement was founded on.
A century later and we are still working for social justice and equality. Our track record speaks for itself. From free education to paving the way for the establishment of a secular state, providing decent housing for those in need, achieving real independence for our country and making Malta an international player on the world stage, are just some of the major accomplishments of a Labour government. Fast forward to 2020 and we are still the movement which can shape the country’s future.
The last seven years were also ones marked by great success. The introduction of free universal childcare, the tapering of benefits, the creation of 72,000 new jobs, reforms in education, strengthening our rule of law framework and a complete revolution in civil liberties to name a few. This was only possible due to the unprecedented economic growth and the sound fiscal policies that became a strong point of the Labour administration.
However, even with all these achievements under our belt I believe that there is something else we should be proud of in our hundredth year. This hard working can-do attitude makes us stand out from other political forces in the country. We want to bring about change because of our conviction to do better not out of political convenience. We want to see our country move forward as one people instead of encouraging division across the nation.
Perhaps our 100 year celebration did not go as planned. This significant milestone comes at a time when the world has been rattled by a pandemic. Now more than ever, it is crucial for us to think about the country we want to leave to our children. That is why the idea of developing 100 ideas to mark 100 years of labour is one I am very excited about. As a government, we are implementing the measures on which we were elected. As a party, it is our duty to renew our vision as society continues to evolve.
I want a country that dares to make the necessary changes to improve the quality of life of the people. Workers rights and employment conditions must remain at the top of our agenda for the years to come. Solutions must be found which provide for more quality time for working parents and their children.
Labour is the champion of welfare and income policies for young families and first-time buyers. It would be unwise to shy away from sensistive discussions on the affordability of housing and the suitability of our homes.
The country’s infrastructure and our environment are a priority too. They are directly interlinked with the quality of life. It is not just a matter of planting more trees; we need to take bold decisions on issues that have been dragging on for years. The same can be said for security. We all want to live in a safer society, yet as citizens we need to be more disciplined.
I still believe that a progressive agenda is the hallmark that should continue to differentiate our government and our movement from others. Today, there are still people that are facing inequality and injustices, and each one of them must be addressed. We should ask ourselves, are the laws regulating issues such as divorce and IVF ensuring that everyone is given equal access? We also need to continue reforming our justice system.
We have implemented a change in many aspects regarding the rule of law but, is the current system working for the ordinary citizen that needs justice to be done in a swift and timely manner?
These are the issues that people discuss every day and must therefore be our priority. Looking on the other side of the political aisle, the PN has not even begun to discuss these topics. It is evident that their sole interest lies in gaining power at all costs and their internal strife hinders them from ever transforming themselves into a real opposition. In the face of all this, the responsibility of Partit Laburista to provide the answers to these questions is even greater. In our hundredth year, under the leadership of Robert Abela, we will prove that we do have the right answers that our society and the people need.