Prime Minister Robert Abela announced a series of electoral proposals focused on pension reform, elderly care and active ageing during a Labour Party event in Għaxaq on Monday.

Addressing party supporters, the Prime Minister said that a Labour government would continue strengthening social measures aimed at improving the quality of life of pensioners and senior citizens.

Among the headline proposals, Abela announced that by 2028 the government would complete the process of addressing pension disparities affecting people born before and after 1962. He said the highest pensionable income threshold would eventually become equal for all pensioners, regardless of their year of birth. The reform, which formally began in 2024, is part of an ongoing endeavour, according to Abela, to address what he deemed an "injustice" created under a previous Nationalist administration.

The Prime Minister also announced that the bonus paid to people who contributed through National Insurance stamps but did not qualify for a pension would start increasing annually in line with the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

Another key measure announced was a further €200 increase in the grant given to citizens aged over 75.

Abela also revealed that government assistance for elderly people employing a live-in carer would rise from €9,000 to the equivalent of the national minimum wage – nearly €11,000. The increase is intended to enable more senior citizens to afford live-in care while maintaining their independence in their own homes.

Abela further pledged the introduction of smart wearable devices for elderly people aged over 80 who live alone. The devices would monitor health indicators such as hydration levels and heart rate, remind users to take medication, and trigger immediate action in emergencies or in cases of rapid health deterioration.

By continuously monitoring their health and initiating prompt response in an emergency, the wearable technology is meant to provide older residents and their families with more peace of mind.

The Prime Minister said the government would continue investing in Active Ageing Centres across the country in collaboration with local councils. The plan includes extending opening days, diversifying activities and opening additional centres in more localities.

Abela also announced an expansion of the Silver T free transport service for the elderly. The service would be offered during more hours throughout the day and would include trips beyond village boundaries.

During his speech, the Prime Minister said these measures form part of a wider vision to ensure that elderly people continue to live with dignity and enjoy a better quality of life. He maintained that a Labour government will continue investing in the elderly so that a stronger Malta remains a country that cares for everyone at every stage of life.

Abela centred the evening's promises around the idea of social justice, stating that Malta's robust economic performance, which he called the eighth most productive in the EU, meant that the moment had come for people to profit from the wealth being produced.

During the event, he attacked Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg, mocking what he claimed was a proposal to put a petrol station in the middle of the sea, and accusing him of contradicting himself on foreign workers. Additionally, he contended that the PN's proposal to eliminate inheritance tax would make families worse off by subjecting them to capital gains tax.

The Prime Minister warned that every tactic was being tried against the Labour Party and asked supporters not to trust what he described as propaganda that was making the rounds on social media.

Abela said that in 2013 critics had claimed that Labour would not work, but today Malta has the best employment rate.

“A Labour government believed in each and every one of you. Now is the time to reap the rewards,” Abela said.

The meeting was also addressed by Labour candidates Glenn Beddingfield and Jonathan Attard.