The Ministry for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights has already reached a 90% implementation rate of the Electoral Manifesto presented back in 2017. This Ministry is set to reach a total of 34 social measures, with the majority fully operating and reaching thousands of families, pensioners, people with disabilities and other vulnerable people.

Details were given at a press conference by Minister Michael Falzon, who was speaking as part of a governmental campaign; ‘Gvern għan-Nies’, in the locality of Tarxien.

Minister Falzon emphasised that social wealth, is fundamental in every society, and this is the driving force in implementing such measures, in a short period of time. These include those related to pensions, past injustices, measures to fight poverty and social exclusion, and financial help to families, such as children’s allowance, child bonus, adoptions and fostering grants, in-work benefit and tapering of benefits.

Minister Falzon also pointed specifically to a number of firsts accomplished by the Ministry, especially those affecting children’s rights. He mentioned the two new directorates focusing on child protection, a full-time paediatrician working in FSWS, reforms in child protection laws, a new rehabilitation centre for adolescents engaging in drugs problems, with a capital investment of €4 million and an operation of a million euro yearly.

Despite all these positive efforts, the government must stay focused on continuing to help people to raise the bar, whilst continuing its work to achieve social justice in all areas.