A proposal to raise the minimum wage should be discussed among the social partners, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this morning. 

The PN leader has pledged to raise minimum wage by 3.5 per cent every year over three years.

Speaking during a meeting with European Economic and Social Committee president Georges Dassis, Dr Busuttil spoke about the importance of equal and fair distribution of wealth. 

This was a challenge across Europe and measures were needed to ensure everybody can tap into economic growth, he said. 

PN leader is flip-flopping, says Labour

In a statement, the Labour Party said that Dr Busuttil's pledge to raise the minimum wage ran directly counter to statements he himself had made in the past. 

The PL provided video footage (see below) to bolster their argument. In the first clip, Dr Busuttil argues that rather than raise the minimum wage, people earning the minimum should be helped to get better jobs. In the second clip, the PN leader says "yes" when asked whether he is in favour of raising the minimum wage. 

The PN leader was only backing a minimum wage increase out of political convenience rather than conviction, the PL said.