In the next legislature, there are more plans for pensions to be increased further as the Labour Party believes that the elderly deserve to have a better quality of life, PL Leader Robert Abela said on Wednesday.

Speaking in Mellieha, Abela said the party’s electoral campaign centres around improving the quality of life and the environment, including through investment in new open spaces.

He remarked how under a PL government pensions have been constantly on the rise, contrarily to what happened under PN governments, where pensions were “frozen” for 25 years.

He said the upcoming €15 increase is not inclusive of the cost of living increase.

Abela said that pensioners will be left with thousands more in their pockets, allowing them to lead a better quality of life, possibly even better than the life they led during their working years.

The PL leader said the government is promising free medicines for all elderly. A Labour government has also decreased utility bills, whilst increasing pensions, leaving extra funds in the pockets of the elderly.

Referring to the five electoral campaign proposals announced on Sunday, Abela said the benefits of such measures will be felt mostly by those with the least income as the Labour Party wants everyone to be in a better position.

Mentioning some past examples of how a PL government made changes for the better, he explained how it managed to improve pensions for the widowers, people who are classified as invalid to work, self-employed and for those retiring from the civil services.

Abela said that the decision between going back to the past or a better future is in the hands of the nation.