'I never advocated a wage freeze' - Prime Minister

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning told a court that he never planned to freeze minimum wage, but that he was simply against the cost of living allowance going over that outlined in the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) mechanism.

Taking the witness stand in libel proceedings which he had filed against the Nationalist Party, the Prime Minister argued that a billboard used during the last PN electoral campaign, depicting him holding an ice cube to suggest he was advocating a wage freeze, was defamatory in suggesting that a new Labour government would freeze the minimum wage.

“The billboard carried a blatant lie, was defamatory and aimed at damaging the PL’s credibility during the electoral campaign,” Muscat said.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale heard how Muscat was quoted saying that economic growth is the first priority for the country and that he does not envisage an increase in the minimum wage that goes beyond the COLA. In the following days, the PN erected billboards reading “a new labour government would freeze the minimum wage”.

Muscat said anyone who attended the pre-election Labour Congress could corroborate his evidence that neither he nor any Labour representative said such things.

He also said that in the past 25 years there had never been any discussion about changes to the minimum wage, but all amendments were done according to the COLA.

Muscat said this was his first ever defamation claim in his political career. "Neither as Opposition leader, nor now as Prime Minister have I ever adopted a policy of suing for defamation, but I had to take this step when I was quoted saying things I never did."

Muscat added that his two budgets confirmed that his government was not advocating a wage freeze.

Defence lawyer Joseph Zammit Maempel, appearing for the PN, argued that the billboard slogan was not a quote but written in the third person. Muscat replied that the allegations were not only voiced through the PN's billboard but also in sound-bites aired by the Nationalist Party and quoted in press statements.

"At the Labour Congress I reiterated the importance that wages should be enough so people can cope. I never mentioned any changes to the minimum wage over and above COLA. The billboard alleged that throughout the Labour administration the minimum wage will remain the same," Muscat said.

Lawyer Paul Lia is appearing for Muscat.