The government has a clear plan of how to take the country forward and address new realities with solutions and concrete action, with a clear example being the labour market management and the situation of third-country workers, the Labour Party said Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said the Government is putting forward the policy for public consultation. He maintained that instead of being populist, the Government understood the country's needs and aimed to safeguard the workers' interests.

One of the main principles that Minister Camilleri mentioned is the policy of stability in the labour market, control to be exercised only when needed, as well as investment in skills. He said that the PN on this issue has no proposals, except to organise a conference and shoot figures haphazardly regarding how many foreign workers are needed in Malta.

Camilleri invited anyone wanting to dialogue with the Government to come forward with their ideas and take part in the public consultation process. The public consultation began with the social partners at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) when the document was first presented to them last week.

Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul said that a Labour Party in Government values the work and commitment of the social partners because social dialogue leaves desired results to address new challenges. He praised the positive response by the social partners to the recommendations made in the Malta Labour Migration Policy document.

He quoted the reaction of some of the social partners who welcomed the Government's proposals in this regard, saying that the Government is also taking note of the suggestions they are making during the consultation process. He said that through social dialogue the government is managing to address new realities which have developed in the labour market and listed reforms which came into effect in the last three years.

Ellul mentioned the work done to regulate the digital platform work sector, namely workers who distribute food, medicines, purchases and documents, with Malta being among the first European countries to act and gave rights to these workers. He also spoke about the rules that have come into force for employment agencies, known as temping agencies, so that there will be more visibility on operators regarding the engagement of foreign workers in various sectors.