“I am in the workers’ party as this party is built on the belief that whoever is born human should live as human, by learning, working and eating, whether he was born in wealth or in poverty.” This strong message was delivered by Ġuże Ellul Mercer, a brilliant author and a former deputy leader of the Labour Party.

I grew up learning on how Labour administrations ensured everyone decent shelter in the post-war period, how jobs were generated when the country made the shift from a fortress economy to an industrial economy, how children started to attend school mandatorily so that everyone could get an education and how stipends ensured that one could be successful no matter the financial capacity of their family and how parenthood was promoted and supported through a radical and universal children’s allowance.

This is the welfare state on which a whole generation of Maltese was built. These are the reasons which years ago drew me closer to the Labour Party.

Returned to government in 2013, the Labour Party found a country in stagnation. A country which needed new stimuli and a new narrative which still called for renewed strengthening of the welfare state.

The new approach to invervention led to universal free childcare which resulted in a considerable increase of female participation in the labour market.

Economic recovery and growth meant better distribution of wealth which in effect resulted in yearly pension increases, historical raises in the children’s allowance, a disability pension at par with the minimum wage and over, and other social benefits. It also resulted in free school transport and free examinations for SEC and Matsec, removing more obstacles so that everyone can have access to a successful educational pathway.

We remained firm in our identity in the way we ensured that growth meant an expanded labour force and access to more and better jobs, resulting in a race to the top with respect to working conditions. We fought precarious conditions and remain engaged to deal it a fatal blow.

The drive to make work pay catalysed a historic rise in the minimum wage in 2017, the strengthening of in-work benefits to supplement the disposable income of low income earners and the recent reduction of income tax on part-time employment. This is partially behind the record numbers in employment and the record low numbers of registered unemployed, notwithstanding a global pandemic.

This legislature was characterised by a renewed effort for the State to design an inclusive housing policy that provides alternatives, that induces affordability, facilitates homeownership and provides adequate shelter for vulnerable segments of the population.

Decisions and policies of the past nine years gave a renewed sense of hope to everyone. Despite the growing benefits every year there are less people relying on them. This is testament to the model implemented and the tangible development experienced. We provided the necessary tools for people to develop and facilitated social mobility.

There are new challenges to face. There are realities we cannot and shall not ignore. The pandemic-triggered challenges faced by the business community is reflected in the people’s purchasing power. Necessary emergency measures were taken to cushion the global increases in the prices of energy this winter. The maintenance of the wage supplement is another hefty expenditure we continue to make so that people remain in employment. We chose to invest in people and families over austerity to fight a crisis and it is yielding benefits.

We shall embark on vast training programmes to prepare our youth and workforce to the new opportunities and challanges brought about by a greener and a digital economy.

These are the decisions which together characterise the social programme of the Labour administration. They characterise a government which was accessible to any stakeholder, which was open to dialogue, and to facilitate trade and growth. It was a government that created opportunities that led to social mobility. However, it was this social programme which ensured the Party in practice, stayed true to its roots and laid the foundations for a new generation to grow sustainably.

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi is parliamentary secretary for

European Funds at the Office of the Prime Minister