The government has issued a Green Paper calling for proposals to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty.

Social Policy Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said at a presentation that Malta had 23 per cent of the population at risk of poverty, according to EU statistics. That equates to 94,000 people.

The EU average is 25 per cent.

As of 2012, 30.9 per cent of children were at risk of poverty, a total of 22,801. She said 13,000 children lived within families whose income was less than €6,500 per annum.

The figures also showed that 8,000 elderly people had an income of less than €6,500 per year.

The purpose of the Green Paper is to lead to the drafting of a policy structure aimed at improving the quality of life. Such policies would also promote solidarity, equality and respect for all.

The minister said the government's target was to reduce the number of those at risk of poverty by 22,000 by the end of next year. This, she said contrasted with the  former government's target of reducing poverty by 6,500 by 2020. 

The government is to allocate €10m for the purpose. The focus would be on low income families with children and the elderly who are on a low income.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the underlying purpose of the Green Paper was to achieve social mobility. 

More details on antipoverty.mfss@gov.mt