Prime Minister Joseph Muscat spoke on the government's way ahead in the next two years as he spoke at a Labour Party mass meeting on Castille Square this afternoon.

Addressing thousands of supporters who packed the square, Dr Muscat said Labour was celebrating Workers' Day in the best possible manner, with Malta having a record number of gainfully occupied workers and the lowest unemployment.

"Thanks to your confidence in this movement, today there are more jobs than there are workers," he said.

But that was not enough. Malta needed better jobs for its skilled workers, and a better quality of life for the people.

"We need to grow the economy and ensure that all the people benefit from this growth...wealth needs to reach more people," he said.

Social justice was the government's aim but that could not happen without economic prosperity, he added.

"We have done more in three years than somebody else did in 25 years, we have a vision for change that is unfolding, but progress is not something that is inevitable and needs hard work," he said. 

"We have laid the foundations after inheriting a home that was falling to bits..now they want the keys back, but the people will say No, the people want this government to complete its work and to win its confidence once more in two years' time," Dr Muscat said.

We have laid the foundations after inheriting a home that was falling to bits..now they want the keys back, but the people will say No, the people want this government to complete its work and to win confidence once more in two years' time

He said that in the coming two years people would be paid to have operations in the private sector if waiting lists stayed long. Medicines would be delivered to patients' homes, Mater Dei would be enlarged, the Gozo hospital would be rebuilt and St Luke's would be refurbished.

New schools would be opened and new social housing would be built. More assistance would be given for home ownership and poverty would be drastically reduced.

€153 million in investments, with 500 new jobs, had been announced in a week and this would be continued. But it was important that workers were trained to take the new jobs.

Work on the new university in the south would start in the coming weeks in Cospicua. Sports facilities would be built in Marsascala and Birzebbuga.

The White Rocks project would take off shortly. Logistics free zones would be opened, new yacht marinas would be set up and the business environment would be improved with less red tape.

Shop opening hours would become more flexible while safeguarding workers' rights.

Inflation would be kept in check to ensure people had more purchasing power and measures would be taken to help minimum wage earners.

The government would not shirk from discussion of delicate issues such as migration and foreign workers, who should not be abused but should not undermine Maltese workers' rights. 

In an effort to deter precarious work, no government work contracts of less than a year would be awarded. Contracts would be awarded to those who treated workers best, such as those who had a collective agreement with unions and those who engaged people with disabilities, not those who submitted the lowest tender bids. 

Over the coming two years the government needed to show its environment credentials by providing more open spaces and through measures to put vacant buildings to use. No ODZ land would be taken up, Dr Muscat said.

Enemalta would turn a profit in the next two years and studies on a gas pipeline would be completed. Fuel prices would remain stable and be reduced.

The government would work hard to give Air Malta the future it deserved.

There would be a regeneration of the St George's Bay's Bay area and next year Malta would assume the presidency of the EU.

One had 'no idea' when he spoke of the divisions of 12 years ago, when Malta joined the EU, Dr Muscat said with reference to Dr Busuttil's speech in the morning. Malta now had the most pro-EU government ever.

He said the IVF law would be improved in the coming years, and the administration of justice would continue to be improved. A discussion would be held on lowering the voting age to 16 for the European Parliament elections, followed by the general election.

Protection would be given to cohabiting couples and their children.

MAJOR ROADS PROJECT PLANNED

The government would work for better roads and a better bus service.  All roads would be redone or improved under a major infrastructural project and there would be a focus on parking in areas such as the university.

A decision would be taken on the Gozo tunnel and in the meantime a fast ferry service would be introduced.

There would also be a 'governance plan' where MPs would have to set an example, and they would only be paid if they attended parliament. All government contracts would be published by year's end.

Pensions would be increased but taxes would not be raised, Dr Muscat said. The allowance for those who stayed at home to care for their loved ones would be raised first. Those with disabilities would be helped to work, where they could, and those at home would have improved benefits.

The deficit would continue to be narrowed and the debt reduced. 

There would be justice for Sea Malta workers and others, including policemen still waiting for their overtime pay.

MISTAKES MADE...PEOPLE EXPECTED BETTER

Dr Muscat said mistakes were made and people expected better. He was taking responsibility for everyone's mistakes because ultimately, he was responsible.

We have the courage and enthusiasm to double what we have done in the past three years and more than make up for our mistakes, because the people are with us

But he was also the one to have kept his promises of lower electricity bills and free childcare, among others.

"We have the courage and enthusiasm to double what we have done in the past three years and more than make up for our mistakes, because the people are with us," Dr Muscat said.

"The choice is a clear one, between a movement that wants better for the country, and people who are bitter, a choice between the positive and the negative," he said. 

He thanked all for their 'signal' by attending, saying they had instilled further courage and enthusiasm in the government.

WARM WELCOME FOR KONRAD MIZZI 

Minister without portfolio Konrad Mizzi got a warm welcome when he arrived early for the meeting. 

Dr Mizzi lost the energy and health portfolios last week in the wake of the Panama controversy but remains a minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. 

PN REACTION: MUSCAT SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE PANAMA SCANDAL

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party criticised Dr Muscat for not even mentioning the Panama scandal and said he had only spoken about matters which he promised 38 months ago and had not delivered yet.