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Prime Minister Robert Abela said the business community should not view enforcement and regulation as “persecution” against them.
“Everyone must understand that they have to work within the law,” he told veteran journalist Reno Bugeja at a Labour Party political event in Birzebbuga on Friday.
He was asked about the issue of restaurants and venues placing tables and chairs outside the regulations despite the master plan.
Several government agencies raided St George’s Square in Rabat, Gozo, on Thursday following protests by activists against the uncontrolled occupation of public space by restaurants.
The prime minister said the measure would remain in place across the country and those who continued to break the rules would be prosecuted. “There is a provision in the law that if the situation recurs, shops can be closed.”
Abela was also asked about the recent protests by Bolt drivers who are receiving less income despite working long hours.
“You can’t allow workers to get inhumane wages. They deserve decent wages. JobsPlus is analysing the labour market and those workers who are not creating added value for the country, putting pressure on the national infrastructure, will no longer have a place here,” Abela said.
Talking about the country’s economic model, Abela said the current situation must be seen in a wider context and compared with the situation a decade ago.
“At the time, unemployment was high and economic growth was mediocre. Then things improved significantly and Maltese began to accept jobs and opportunities. Opportunities kept growing and foreign workers followed,” he said. “There are solutions and we can find the solutions that the country needs.”
Asked about the issue of low wages in the country, he said the government has signed a number of collective agreements in the public sector “and will continue to do so.” He also said the party’s commitment to increase the minimum wage will continue until legislation is completed.
Bugaja questioned whether the government’s strategy of not introducing new taxes was unsustainable. Abela responded by saying he did not believe in such an economic model because the increase in taxes would be borne by low-income earners.
Responding to the results of the last election, the prime minister said the party may not have sufficiently appealed to centrist voters.
Asked about the construction sector, Abela said the government had already introduced many reforms and would continue to do so.
He insisted that “ODZ is ODZ” and its application in these areas “won’t work”.
Finally, the Prime Minister said that the election for the deputy leader of the party will end in mid-September. The current deputy leader, Daniel Micallef, announced his resignation from the party after the last MEP elections.
“People still believe that we are the best political force to lead the country, but they also expect more from us and are ready to convince them,” he concluded.
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