Prime Minister Robert Abela expressed total disagreement with criticism that measures impacting Third Country Nationals announced in the Budget are unjust or discriminatory.

During last Monday’s Budget speech, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana announced measures which will increase fees for the hiring of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) and also remove certain free services for them such as public transport and childcare.

The measures attracted criticism from business lobbies, NGOs and foreign communities living in Malta, but speaking on Sunday in a political activity in Marsaxlokk, Abela disagreed with his critics.

“These measures strengthen the concept of the Labour Migration Policy introduced two years ago as they aim to reduce the turnover among workers,” he told a hall of supporters.

He said that the debate about foreign workers must be handled with maturity and without descending into the trading of derogatory discourse. “We are speaking about people, and people who I must ensure have the dignity that they deserve,” Abela said.

“But, their participation in our labour market must be strictly in accordance to the needs of certain sectors, and not in excess,” he said.

Abela called on everyone – including businesses – to contribute their share to the country.  “Are we asking a lot?”, he questioned while saying this.

The Prime Minister dedicated his speech to the Budget, as he reaffirmed that a Labour Government will continue to stand firmly behind everyone, whatever challenges may arise abroad.

He contrasted with this with the Nationalist Party, whom he said were irresponsible, indecisive, and incompetent in their behaviour.

Indeed, Abela dedicated a significant chunk to criticising his political counterpart, saying that it continues to believe in the politics of austerity and that had the PN been in government it would have found “1,000 excuses” to fail to implement what it promised.

“They remain the party which believes in austerity; that believes that the country’s financial solutions are to increase burdens; that as long as they are comfortable, everyone is comfortable,” he said.

Abela said that a PL government will guarantee that the energy subsidies will remain in force, no matter how big the storm clouds elsewhere in the world may be.

He contrasted this with the PN, saying that prior to the general election last May, PN leader Alex Borg had said that the party was in favour of maintaining the subsidies – but more recently the party’s Shadow Finance Minister Adrian Delia – whom Abela described as the PN’s “unofficial leader” – wrote twice in newspapers that it was time to review the subsidies.

“If Adrian Delia read out the Budget last Monday instead of Clyde Caruana, do you think he’d have kept those subsidies? That he’d have given a clear guarantee? Or do you think that they’d have destroyed the economy?  They’d have found a thousand excuses to remove the subsidies because they do not believe in them,” Abela said.

He also described the PN’s lack of a pre-budget document as incompetence but also irresponsibility, particularly given the geopolitical context and the fact that the party is aspiring to be in government. Even smaller political parties recognised the importance of the moment and issued such documents, Abela said.

Abela said that in his Budget reaction on Monday, PN Leader Alex Borg will no doubt speak about his usual predictable tropes: “On Tuesday, I will answer… I can almost answer him now actually because they will be playing from the same tune,” he said.

Turning to the Budget itself, Abela highlighted that this Budget sets a new record for social investment, with the largest-ever capital expenditure allocation, representing an increase of 25% compared with this year. He added that the Budget will also deliver an updated Artificial Intelligence strategy, reforms and changes in education, stronger electricity generation and distribution, new projects in healthcare and green infrastructure, greater access to IVF, and an extension of the first-time buyer scheme to people going through separation and older people looking to downsize. It will also extend fast ferry operating hours and expand sea transport services.

Abela reiterated that the Government's ambitions remain high. Having consistently delivered on its commitments in the past, the next step is to deliver even faster, he said. While the previous three legislatures focused on achieving the country's economic targets, the Government will now place an even greater emphasis on improving people's quality of life, he added.

The Prime Minister went on to explain that this Budget demonstrates how strong economic growth generates the financial resources a country needs to withstand major external shocks, such as a pandemic, wars and the global surge in inflation. He added that Malta has continued moving forward thanks, in no small part, to the confidence and support of its people, who entrusted the PL with a fourth historic electoral mandate. This, he said, places an even greater responsibility on the Labour Government.

Abela concluded by pledging to continue working for everyone, driven by the people who have backed a Labour Government and its progressive economic policies. Whether someone is just starting out in life, striving to achieve their ambitions or looking forward to enjoying the rewards after years of hard work, Malta be there for them. The Labour Party in Government, he said, remains a guarantee of a better future for our country.