Conrad Borg Manché: Labour’s Workers’ Woes

In the heart of Malta’s political scene, at the PN headquarters in Pieta, a familiar face took center stage. Conrad Borg Manché, the Nationalist Party’s spokesperson on employment and industrial relations, didn’t mince his words. “Labour has let down the workers,” he declared, his voice echoing in the room filled with party faithful and curious onlookers.

Workers’ Woes: A Growing Concern

Borg Manché’s words resonated with many in the audience. They’ve seen the headlines, felt the pinch. Unemployment, though down, is still a concern. The cost of living has skyrocketed, with inflation at its highest in decades. Workers, especially those in lower-paid jobs, are struggling to make ends meet. The pandemic’s impact on jobs and businesses has only exacerbated the situation.

Borg Manché pointed to the government’s handling of the pandemic as a key factor. “Instead of protecting jobs and supporting businesses, Labour chose to impose harsh restrictions that pushed many over the edge,” he said, referring to the strict lockdowns and business closures that characterized the early pandemic response.

Promises Unfulfilled: The 18% Wage Increase

Borg Manché also took aim at the government’s much-touted 18% wage increase for low-income workers. “It was a promise made in haste, with no plan on how to fund it,” he said. The increase, initially planned for 2021, has been delayed until 2023, with the government citing the need to manage public finances in the face of the pandemic’s economic fallout.

Borg Manché wasn’t buying it. “This is a broken promise, plain and simple,” he said. “Workers were told they’d see a pay increase, and now they’re being told to wait. It’s not good enough.”

PN’s Plan: A ‘Job Guarantee’ Scheme

Borg Manché didn’t just criticize, he also presented the PN’s plan. The party is proposing a ‘Job Guarantee’ scheme, modeled after similar initiatives in other European countries. The scheme would provide a job to anyone who wants one, with the government acting as the employer of last resort.

“This isn’t about handouts,” Borg Manché said. “It’s about giving people dignity and purpose. It’s about ensuring that everyone who wants to work can work, and that no one is left behind.” The scheme, he said, would be funded through a combination of EU funds, increased productivity, and targeted investments.

Borg Manché’s speech was a rallying cry, a call to action. “We can’t stand by and watch as Labour lets down our workers,” he said. “We need to fight for a better future, for a Malta where everyone who wants to work can work, and where no one is left behind.”

The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers echoing through the streets of Pieta, a stark reminder that the battle for Malta’s workers is far from over.