Often, over the past few months, I have found myself wondering about us as a society rediscovering our commitment to the common good. How can this government restore the common good that was so miserably lost by the previous administration?

The question before me, therefore, is how can we, as a society, commit ourselves to the ethic of the common good.

The common good involves the government, the private sector, civil society and public institutions working well together.

It is built on the reassurance that the country has an affordable and accessible public healthcare system, universal education, social benefits, a just legal political system and a flourishing economy.

If something goes wrong in this interlaced system, a domino effect is felt in the social sector.

That is why this government repeatedly speaks of an integrated social policy. No social policy can work on its own, isolated from the bigger picture.

It was a minor change that made a huge difference

It is for this reason that we have launched a Green Paper themed ‘A framework for poverty reduction and for social inclusion’, which paves the way for concrete policies to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Malta.

The government is addressing poverty from every angle, including education, employment and health. The idea is to ease burdens and empower families.

Different people perceive poverty in different ways. But whichever way you look at it, there is no doubt that poverty levels have been spiralling upwards.

For many years, the previous government has either lived in denial as to the existence of poverty or, at best, has argued that poverty was a marginal issue.

However, when we study the data we now know that poverty is a major concern and, therefore, a major public policy issue.

At last, Malta now has a government that is prepared to do something about it.

This Green Paper has been produced after months of consultation with professionals, the Church, the public and children themselves.

Its target is to lift 22,000 children out of poverty by next year.

Work has already begun. After just a couple of months in office, this government started giving back to people the dignity lost in previous years.

We started by paying children’s allowance three weeks in advance to cushion the financial burden that comes with the start of every scholastic year.

It was a minor change that made a huge difference.

That is what this government is aiming for, making people’s lives better and giving dignity to the vulnerable while strengthening the middle class. Recently, this government implemented another significant initiative: the removal of the voucher system for those struggling to pay utility bills. No longer will people have to queue up to claim what is rightfully theirs.

It was a very degrading scene, seeing those 26,000 beneficiaries waiting in the ‘poverty queue’ for a simple discount on their energy bill. They were being stigmatised as the families who needed vouchers to cope.

What is more, some beneficiaries weren’t even claiming their vouchers; they were losing out on more than half a million euros they were entitled to.

This is not what government should be about, running down its own citizens and short changing them.

On the contrary, this government stands for a just society, for inclusion, for a dignified social system that gives a helping hand to those in need and in turn instils in them a sense of belonging, a sense of dignity and an environment committed to social justice. This is the common good that helps to make a country everyone can be proud of. I am pleased that we will go even further in March.

When we cut electricity bills, the average reduction will be 25 per cent but low users, such as pensioners living on their own, will receive an even larger reduction.

We have also given pensioners a better chance of a decent life by paying a one-off grant of €300 to help them continue living in their communities. This grant was previously given to pensioners above 78 years old. It is now being given to those above 75.

We should all celebrate pensioners having an active and healthy life with fewer financial worries. It is in this country’s best interest to give vulnerable groups the dignity they deserve. Once they are given the opportunity to better themselves and the people around them, we are on the path to a just society.

A just society involves equal opportunities for all. And when those who are more fortunate reach out to the vulnerable they are losing little. Indeed, they gain more dignity themselves.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca is Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity