PN MP Graziella Attard Previ said Monday that there is a lack of social workers in the country, and the recent Budget should have addressed social issues.

During Parliament on Monday, both sides of the House spoke in the debate on the financial estimates within the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights.

PN spokespersons Ivan Bartolo, David Agius, Graziella Attard Previ and Charles Azzopardi spoke about how the recent Budget failed to address social issues.

The PN said that government has not fulfilled its promises from the PL electoral programme, as many were not mentioned in the Budget document. The PN accused government or reducing the individual’s dignity.

It also said that there is a lack of social workers in the country, and those existing are leaving the sector after a few years.

The PN said that circumstances which social workers face are many and difficult, which could lead to risks of burnout. It said government should be giving more resources in this regard.

It continued to say that government is not providing adequate financial aid to those who are most vulnerable, particularly mentioning parents with children who have disabilities, who have to spend thousands on medical care. The PN said that in the meantime, government continues to grant billions to Steward Healthcare.

The PN reiterated that government is choosing to waste taxpayers’ money on corrupt deals, direct orders, theft of pensions and theft in electricity and water bills.

Rebutting, MP Michael Farrugia said that the sector has benefitted from several social benefits to children’s welfare and the most vulnerable.

He said that government has respected the worker and incentivized them, whilst a government under the Nationalist party brought forward a law in which if a worker holds a strike, they get sent to prison.

He said that electricity and water bills became cheaper under a PL government, which have helped in the decline of poverty in the country. Farrugia said that in other countries, energy bills exploded, whilst government has ensured to curb inflation by allocating €600 million towards the increases of energy, cereals and wheat.

Farrugia continued that under a PL government, social exclusion has decreased, as well as pensions for the elderly having increased.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul said that the PL has worked tirelessly towards the protection of children, after admitting that in the past, children were not given a voice.

Ellul said that there have been significant revisions in adoption laws, foster carers and child witness laws which continue to consider the best interest of the child.

Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon continued that government has spent €130 million towards the social welfare services.

He said that government has committed itself to continue its work with NGOs, with government spending €13 million.

Falzon said that this government brought on the eighth consecutive increase for pensioners.

Replying to the PN’s comments on social workers, Falzon said that it is true that social workers in the country are decreasing, and that government must incentivize people to attract them towards the sector.

On burnout, Falzon said that the working conditions of these social workers should be addressed, but in the case of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, the conditions are good, where around 21,000 persons made use of the service, and seven in 10 persons said that they were satisfied with the service.

“The budget is socially strong and just,” Falzon said.