Prime Minister Robert Abela has held that the PL's manifesto proposal regarding mandatory union membership is about holding a discussion on the issue.

Abela was asked about the PL's manifesto proposal to start discussions with the social partners to introduce mandatory union membership for workers. It its manifesto, the PL says that it agrees in principle with mandatory union membership.

"Our proposal speaks about holding a discussion. It mentions that two large unions - GWU and UHM, spoke in favour of this proposal. We are speaking about arriving at a discussion. But, ironically, the Opposition Leader called this measure 'oppressive' and when I saw the PN's pre-budget document for the last budget, it was a measure the PN had proposed," Abela said.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said on Monday that not all workers will want to join a union and one cannot force them to unionise. 

Prime Minister Robert Abela was asked about calls by Malta International Airport to remove the remaining travel restrictions.

"On the question of restrictions, we always said we had a plan to gradually remove restrictions according to the advice of the Superintendent of Public Health," he said. "That is what we have done and as more days pass we will continue removing more measures. Naturally the Superintendent will revise the question of entry into the country, as to whether we should remain with the green certificate or if we should also look at models adopted by other countries where you would have a choice between a green passport or a negative PCR test. But removing everything in this moment one would be taking an uncalculated risk. Eventually we must understand that we must live with the pandemic, but things are done gradually and not in a populist manner, as the Opposition Leader has done over the past days turning the pandemic into a populist question, which in my opinion is a mistake."

Asked about the tax refund and cost of living cheques that are being given out to people and whether this was intentioned to sway voters, he said that since the particular circumstances required us to again be with the people and assist them, this was the moment to send the cheques to people. It wouldn't make sense that if they are needed today to postpone them.