In his greed to try and lessen the trust rating gap between the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition, Simon Busuttil has again shot himself in the foot.

He has harshly criticised the work in the community scheme that is being managed by the GWU. Busuttil described itas “institutionalised precarious employment” and even included the Labour government inhis criticism.

Besides the fact that a similar scheme is being managed by UĦM, but about which Busuttil did not utter a single  word, he had kept hidden a very important point about this scheme.

As we all know, Busuttil had boasted to having written both PN electoral manifestos of 2008 and 2013. In the 2013 manifesto, on page 15, if I remember correctly, he had pledged that this ‘Work in the Community’ scheme, which had originally been launched by the PN government, “would be extended” if the PN returned to office.

And the scheme the same Busuttil had wanted to continue denied the hundreds of workers forming part of it the basic rights of sick leave, annual leave, bonus and had no insurance against injury. In addition, the workers received only 75 per cent of the minimum wage.

The Labour government amended the scheme and ensured that the 600 or so workers engaged in it would receive at least the minimum wage, besides enjoying all the basic rights other workers had, such as sick leave, annual leave, bonuses, insurance etc., apart from the fact that this government is committed to raise the minimum wage for all workers.

Now, if these conditions are considered “precarious employment” by Busuttil, how would he describe the conditions he had wanted to “extend” in 2013 had the PN won the election?

The mind boggles.