Editorial

Labour's decision to set up a business forum marks an interesting turning point in the party's history.

There may have been occasions in the past when, as some have pointed out, the party tried to help out small firms, but, generally speaking, the chasm between Labour and the private sector was wide and relations often bumpy, except with their "friends of friends", to use one of Labour's favourite digs at the Nationalist Administration.

In Dom Mintoff's time, the socialist government sought to expand its role in the economy and the private sector had to struggle to keep its head above water. Ideologies clashed and the people experienced a drop in the quality of life. The private sector faced widespread restrictions, to an extent that its representative bodies had to set up a confederation in a bid to fight off the socialist government's incursion into their territory.

Labour, now under a new leader, is trying hard to change the face of the party, with Joseph Muscat opening the doors to what he is calling as "progressives" or "moderates" in an effort to widen its support base and, therefore, make it possible for his party to end its long period on the opposition benches. But is all this simply a rebranding exercise or a genuine effort to turn Labour into a different party, one that promises to meet the aspirations of all?

Knocking down the barrier that Labour had built with the private sector may not be as easy as Dr Muscat may think. It is all a matter of trust, which is what Dr Muscat is now trying so hard to win, though he is not being all that specific in all that he says in his public speeches. But, in the setting up of the business forum, his party has now at least made a practical move.

According to the information given so far, the forum's core group will have regular meetings with business institutions and hold activities for businessmen, particularly those running small and medium-size firms. Dr Muscat has been reported saying that the forum would not be an exclusive group as he intended breaking down the perception that the PL was antagonistic to employers. It will, of course, take more than the setting up of the forum and his declaration for the perception to be broken down.

The chairman of the forum, Marlene Mizzi, has said that the term ħaddiema (workers) was not restricted to those who were employed but included everyone who performed an activity to earn a living. This is exactly what the private sector had so valiantly preached for so long in Mr Mintoff's time but Labour then looked at businessmen and businesses differently.

She also said they aimed at keeping the party's ears to the ground in matters concerning the business community and at helping the party draw up policies and solve problems, such as how to cut bureaucracy. "This way, we hope everyone will be comfortable, like I am, with Labour being in government, because the policies and structures will be in place and created with the support of those directly involved." Nice words, but, as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as the electorate knows only too well.

Even so, the party's move to set up the business forum is a step in the right direction, provided it will keep to its policies if it is elected.