Former Labour leader Alfred Sant is the only member of the opposition not to have received a shadow portfolio, as the MLP yesterday announced its MPs' responsibilities.
However, despite the omission, sources close to the party said that Dr Sant will not be relinquishing his seat to make space for newly-elected Labour leader Joseph Muscat.
The Labour MPs were informed of their portfolios during a meeting for the parliamentary group yesterday.
Dr Muscat told The Sunday Times: "I spoke to Alfred Sant about it and there's agreement about this procedure."
But the 34-year-old leader said the lack of a portfolio did not mean that Dr Sant would step down from parliament.
"No, it definitely doesn't indicate that. It was a mutual agreement... this is the way to move forward. The decision over who will leave his post will be taken in the coming weeks," he said.
Joseph Cuschieri is among the MPs whom it is thought will give up their parliamentary seat for Dr Muscat, who will step down as an MEP in September.
Dr Muscat downplayed the move not to award Dr Sant a shadow portfolio saying there was a precedent between 1992 and 1996 with the two former leaders - Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.
In the meantime, Dr Muscat said he will be announcing a series of proposals during a party meeting at Siggiewi this morning after the parliamentary group yesterday discussed the proposals put forward by the Prime Minister in a letter sent to the opposition on April 21.
The MLP discussed a set of proposals in a bid to "strengthen democracy" in the country.
"The wide-ranging proposals are to-the-point with a well-defined time-frame, which I think will help the country move forward," Dr Muscat said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had proposed agreement on the pairing issue in return for a nomination of a Speaker from Labour's benches.
Last Sunday, Dr Muscat said Labour agreed to the pairing system in parliament when it felt the meetings government MPs wanted to attend abroad would benefit the island but not when it felt that the meetings or conferences would have no added value for the country.
"It's now up to (Dr) Gonzi to react to our proposals... We will definitely be adopting a positive attitude," he said.
At a glance, what some of the spokesmen are doing:
Joseph Muscat - (Once he becomes an MP) Office of the Prime Minister; internal coordination on the EU
George Vella - EU relations; relations with foreign countries
Michael Falzon - police; immigration
Anġlu Farrugia - employment; industrial relations; parliamentary affairs
Charles Mangion - finance
Gavin Gulia - economy
Michael Farrugia - social policy
Carmelo Abela - industry; foreign investment
Joe Sammut - agriculture and fisheries
Evarist Bartolo - education
Anton Refalo - Gozo
Jose Herrera - justice
Karl Chircop - health
Marie Louise Coleiro Preca - tourism
Leo Brincat - environment