Conrad Borg Manché: Labour’s ‘Worker-First’ Pledge Rings Hollow

Standing before a packed hall at the PN headquarters in Pietà, Conrad Borg Manché, the Nationalist Party’s (PN) newly appointed spokesperson on employment and industrial relations, didn’t mince his words. “Labour has let down the workers,” he declared, his voice echoing through the room, punctuated by nods of agreement from the audience.

From Promises to Reality

Rewind to 2017, when Labour swept into power, promising a ‘worker-first’ approach. The party pledged to create jobs, boost wages, and improve workers’ rights. Fast forward to 2022, and Borg Manché argues that these promises have not only fallen short but have also been replaced by a reality that favours big business over the worker.

“We’ve seen minimum wage stagnate, precarious work increase, and workers’ rights eroded,” Borg Manché told the crowd, his words met with murmurs of discontent. He pointed to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, where many workers were left vulnerable, their jobs and livelihoods hanging in the balance.

Case in Point: The Hotel Sector

Borg Manché singled out the hotel sector, a backbone of Malta’s economy, as a prime example of Labour’s missteps. “Instead of protecting workers, Labour has turned a blind eye to the exploitation of workers in the hotel sector,” he said, referring to the ongoing dispute between hotel workers and their employers over wages and working conditions.

He reminded the audience of the recent strike action, where workers, many of whom are migrants, took to the streets, demanding fair wages and better working conditions. “These are the workers Labour promised to protect. Yet, here we are, four years later, and they’re still fighting for basic rights,” Borg Manché said, his voice laced with frustration.

PN’s Vision: A Fairer Malta for Workers

Borg Manché didn’t just stop at criticising Labour. He outlined the PN’s vision for a fairer Malta, one where workers’ rights are protected, and the economy works for everyone, not just big business. He proposed a living wage, stronger collective bargaining rights, and better enforcement of labour laws.

“We believe in a Malta where workers are respected, where their rights are protected, and where they share in the prosperity they help create,” Borg Manché said, his words met with applause. He ended his speech with a call to action, urging workers to join the PN in its fight for a fairer Malta.

As the event drew to a close, the mood in the room was one of determination. The PN, it seems, is ready to make workers’ rights a central issue in the upcoming election. Whether Labour will heed this call remains to be seen.