The proposed cost-of-living adjustment of €4.66 per week barely made up for this year’s price increases in petrol and gas, Labour deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia said.

The rise was meant to make up for the increase in the cost of living so that families could continue living a decent quality of life despite rising expenses, he added.

But petrol had gone up by 18c per litre, which worked out to an average of €3.24 per week, while gas by about €1.13 per week. The €4.66 would leave people with only 29c extra to deal with other price increases to items like food and medicines.