The Nationalist Party on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Robert Abela uses a different scale to measure what is right or wrong for workers and the public, as compared to his Ministers, and does not truly look out for Maltese workers.

PN MPs Charles Azzopardi and Ian Vassallo spoke at a press conference where they referred to the recent Standards Commissioner report which found that Ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri had breached ethics when giving a consultancy job to Bartolo's then-girlfriend, which she was paid €68,000 a year for, without any experience, qualifications, or expertise.

Azzopardi said that the Labour government is no longer a Labour government, as it chooses between civic society and his close individuals.

He said that PL MP Rosianne Cutajar was right in saying that Abela has "thrown her out" and that she was the "sacrificial lamb" when she had to resign. He further confirmed her words when she said that "everyone pigs out."

Azzopardi said that what was obvious and normal in how civil society should work only applies to the general public, who has to answer to their employer if they even so much as arrive late to work due to traffic.

He said that the "normal" person must give their working hours, pay their due taxes, and government continues to take what is theirs, for example through taxing the COLA.

Meanwhile, Azzopardi said that Bartolo's wife gets a "phantom job" and gets paid as a government consultant, when she did not even do the work.

"Teachers, like myself, must go to school to teach and get paid, as should be done. But this Labour government uses a different scale to measure wrongdoings," Azzopardi said, questioning if the Prime Minister would accept an apology from someone who failed to pay a few cents in taxes.

Azzopardi said that Abela is being criticised by the Malta Employers Association and the Chamber of Commerce, yet he believes he has the strength and power to "do whatever he wants."

"The public gave its answer, that it is fed up and upset. We cannot think that the people do not see through this," Azzopardi said, adding that more truth will come out.

He said that the PN will continue working towards a better quality of life for all, and continue taking the "good side," choose dignity and what is right, so that the country can be "normal" again.

Azzopardi said Abela is a Prime Minister who does not see every worker alike, and Labour MPs in Parliament, as well as Labourites out there, are recognising that this is not longer a government which looks out for workers and the vulnerable.

Vassallo said that unfortunately, this event has caused injury to civic workers, who work, strive and invest in their future to be able to reach success.

He said that through such cases, the public is the one which suffers, as thousands of its taxes went to Amanda Muscat's salary.

"For government, €68k is nothing. But for you, and all the country's sectors, it means something. How many of these thousands were given back and invested back into the country?" Vassallo said.

He said that the PN wants every cent collected in taxes to be given back through services and a better quality of life, while the Labour government is weak with the people, but not with its own.

Vassallo said that a person was even taken to court for stealing a can of tuna, and the average person would be chased after to make sure all their taxes were paid.

"The government's finances are going towards consultancies which don't make sense, meanwhile, government takes taxes from the additional cost of living adjustment, from your pension," Vassallo said.

He said that €68k means three extra nurses in the public sector, two charge nurses, three physiotherapists or other specialists. Vassallo said €68k is what is paid to a consultant at Mater Dei, and also means three more teachers or police officers.

"This is where these funds must be invested, not towards phantom jobs," he said.

Vassallo said that the PN will be the "shield" for people who want to continue studying and investing in their future, so that they can indeed become capable consultants deserving of such a salary.