Labour leader Joseph Muscat took the electoral campaign to the Labour stronghold of Vittoriosa this morning.

He was swamped with enthusiastic supporters as he toured the market and spoke to hawkers and customers.

At the end of his visit he briefly explained Labour’s plans to reduce the water and electricity tariffs saying that everyone would benefit from this measure.

Dr Muscat then went to Toly Products, a major manufacturing company.

At Toly Products, Dr Muscat said Labour believed in the manufacturing industry and more high-end manufacturing companies would be brought to Malta under Labour.

Labour’s energy plan would also increase these companies’ competitiveness.

Company chairman and CEO Andy Gatesy said manufacturers in Malta had costs competitors did not have, such as to import raw materials.

He said that although he could understand that the government had to deal with the recession and policies of the EU “the government also needs to understand our realities.

“If we cannot be competitive we will not win jobs. If we do not win jobs we will not invest, employ or operate from Malta.

“We can find ways of competing through technology but when we have shocks to our systems such as the energy costs more than doubling in the last four years, we will never get these costs back.”

Mr Gatesy noted that Toly had more than just one plant so it could easily shift its work out of Malta.

As a group, he said, it did not stand to lose but Malta would.

Pointing out that he was not politically involved and did not hold a Maltese passport, Mr Gatesy called on his staff is to be optimistic, courageous and not afraid of change.