(Adds PL's reply)

The Nationalist Party has called on the Minister for Social Solidarity - Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca - to apologise to workers who suffered vindictive political transfers at St Vincent to Paul Home.

In a statement issued by party spokesman Mario Galea, the party said that rather than boasting about the few transfers which had been withdrawn, as it did yesterday, the ministry should withdraw all such transfers and apologise to the workers.

The PN said the clique which had taken over St Vincent de Paul should be reined in and the management should be allowed to go about its work.

The party reiterated its solidarity with the workers, who, it said, were working under tension.

But in a reply, the Labour Party said the Union Haddiema Maghqudin had reached an agreement with the government to increase efficiency and keep the elderly at the home happy.

The PL said it was decided that the workers who were moved would be given an alternative job and other worker movements would be discussed around a table. This was clear proof that the counntry had a government that listened.

The PL said that the PN's criticism proved that it was still a negative party living in the past.