Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that the first ever Labour Congress had been a bigger success than he had dared to hope.

Speaking in a television interview, Dr Muscat said the series of workshops held as part of the congress showed how Labour had become a movement. It showed how the people wanted politicians to listen, and the people had contributed through mature debate.

Labour had also shown that it was not prepared to say 'yes' for everything. Using the issue of the minimum wage as an example, he said that while some trade unions wanted a raise in the minimum wage,  Labour had made it clear that its priority was economic growth.

The decision was taken in view of the current economic climate. Should the economy not be sound there would be problems for jobs, workers' rights and the sustainability of welfare. There would also be increased abuse of workers through the black economy.

The minimum wage would continue to rise in a statutory manner but it would be unwise to put new burdens on business as this time. Rather, the state should shoulder the burden, such as by realistic reduction of energy bills, which was one of the main contributors of the cost of living. 

In his comments, Dr Muscat called for flexibility in the way the EU acted. A case in point, he said, was that the EU should have been more flexible in the case of Air Malta given its vital role for the country compared to the role of flag-carriers for the economies of other countries..

Dr Muscat said economic growth should come before the deficit, however progress could be made on the two camps simultaneously especially if Malta had a pro-business, pro-jobs government which worked hand-in-hand with the private sector.

He also defended the PL's support for Malta's assistance to countries such as Greece, saying that now that Malta was in the eurozone, it was in Malta's interest that no eurozone country failed.