Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning promised further government action to ensure that all sectors of society benefited from the economic growth which the country is enjoying.

"We want to ensure that wealth is distributed to all. On Tuesday in the Cabinet and the parliamentary group we will consider a presentation by Caritas on poverty in the country. We want to eradicate poverty. This government, for the first time in years, has managed to bring about a reduction in poverty," Dr Muscat said.

He said he also looked forward to talks on what the minimum wage should be.

Dr Muscat said the government had already given a lot to all strata of society, including the reduction of the power tariffs which boosted the economy while also helping families. It was also this government which reduced unemployment to under 4,000, a figure not seen since 1980 - and at the same time the gainfully occupied population now was at a record level. 

Dr Muscat said special measures were being taken to enable people with disabilities to work. Furthermore, he felt that people with disabilities who were unable to work should eventually see benefits rise to the level of the minimum wage.

CHANGING THE FACE OF GOZO

Dr Muscat made his comments at a regional congress of the Labour Party in Gozo. He hailed progress made in the sister island, saying economic growth was twice that of Malta.  

He said it would be the present government which would give the 'big push' for the realisation of the Malta-Gozo tunnel project, but until then work would continue on introducing a fast-ferry service.

Other projects included a new Gozo hospital, where construction work would start by the end of this year. This, he said, would be a 450-bed hospital that would be better than Malta's. It would cater for local patients and medical tourism. The services company of Harvard University would be involved in the project - helping to achieve the highest recognised standards in Europe and the United States. 

The hospital would also be accompanied by a medical school, which, like medical tourism, would create a boost for the property and catering sectors. 

An impression of the new Gozo hospital.</p>
<p>"We will be changing the face of Gozo for the better, with stronger growth, more jobs...Maltese workers will end coming to Gozo for quality jobs," the prime minister said. &nbsp;</p>An impression of the new Gozo hospital.

"We will be changing the face of Gozo for the better, with stronger growth, more jobs...Maltese workers will end coming to Gozo for quality jobs," the prime minister said.  

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