‘We will come down hard on parents who encourage absenteeism’- Muscat

The government will start taking a hard stance against parents who allow and encourage their children to skip school, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said. He was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Labour Party's Paola section. 

“Some parents actually ask their children how many sick days they have left,” Muscat said. “That is where the mentality of abusing the system begins.”

“We will also act strongly against doctors who issue unwarranted medical certificates,” Muscat added.

“The best strategy against poverty is education,” Muscat said. “Tackling school absenteeism may seem like a very small step to a tackle a large problem but it these small steps that enhance the quality of life in the long-run.”

“Poverty is not a perception but a reality,” Muscat said. However, he said that the poverty statistics quoted by Nationalist MP Clyde Puli, which indicated that a quarter of Malta’s population are either in or at risk of poverty, actually date back to 2012.

Immigration

Muscat pointed out that immigration into Malta has dropped to its lowest level in several years.

“The crisis in the Mediterranean has by no means disappeared though,” Muscat said, citing the ongoing search and rescue operation 300 miles south east of Malta.

“Survivors of this tragedy have told our Armed Forces that 400 people drowned after the boat they were on was hit by another boat,” Muscat said. “Yet, the international media has remained dumb. It’s as though nothing has happened.”

“I will tell Refugee Commissioner Antonio Guterres that Malta needs help in such rescue operations.”

Employment registry reforms

Muscat also said that the employment registry system will be reformed so that it will only cater for people who are genuinely looking for a job.

“The new system will mean that you will only be able to register for a job that exists and that you are capable of doing,” Muscat said, adding that far too many people have registered for jobs as petrol pump assistants than there are positions available.

“People who apply for unemployment benefits but don’t want to work are stealing your taxes,” Muscat said.

Economy

On Friday, global ratings agency Fitch affirmed Malta’s economy at ‘A’ with a stable outlook and said that the economy had grown by 2.9% in 2013, higher than the eurozone average.

“This proves that Opposition leader Simon Busuttil’s warnings were unfounded,” Muscat said. “Our economy grew because we reduced electricity bills, because we invested in education, and because we introduced free childcare which allowed more women to work.”

Mater Dei

Tests found that the concrete used on the accident and emergency department at Mater Dei hospital was of inferior quality.

“Who knew about it? Who signed the certificate saying that that material can be used for construction?” Muscat asked. “Whoever knew about it is a criminal- you cannot put people’s lives in danger like that. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that whoever was responsible for it will carry the weight of responsibility.”

Independence

Malta will celebrate its 50th independence anniversary on 21 September.

“It’s a bit ironic that a Labour government will oversee this milestone after the Labour Party had resisted independence in the past,” Muscat said. “However, these are comedies of the past.”

“While large countries are still debating independence, tiny Malta with its lack of natural resources has made some large strides in the past 50 years,” Muscat said. “I am proud of being Maltese, of seeing Malta develop into a cosmopolitan, liberal and ambitious country that no longer needs to follow the lead of other countries but can be a pioneer in its own right.”