A Bill aimed to remove any form of discrimination towards cohabiting unmarried couples has been presented for Cabinet's approval, the Prime Minister announced this evening.

Addressing the annual general conference of the Ghaqda Nisa Laburisti at the party headquarters in Hamrun, Joseph Muscat said that such legislation, which had been in the offing for about 15 years, was long overdue.

The Prime Minister noted how children living within cohabiting couples should enjoy equal rights. He said that once the Bill is approved by Cabinet, there will be a public consultation.

In his address Dr Muscat also spoke about various measures enacted in the first three years of this legislature to support the most vulnerable. He said that the free child care services and the raise in the minimum pensions were major achievements of this government.

Touching on the issue of poverty he said that more needed to be done, but at the same time he pointed out that for the first time in years, a worsening poverty trend had been reversed.

Another positive indicator was that the number of people on social benefits had gone down to the year 2000 levels, he said.