The Labour Party should see to it that the minimum wage increases gradually, former party president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said today.

Launching his campaign for the upcoming party deputy leadership race, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said that if he were elected, the party would commission a study on how such a wage increase would impact the country and how this could be implemented. It would then be passed on to the government for implementation.

“The economic success the government has achieved should be felt in everyone’s pocket,” he said.

Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi is the third and final candidate to officially launch his campaign, along with Economy Minister Chris Cardona and Justice Minister Owen Bonnici. The election will be held on 9 and 10 June. 

Asked if not occupying a ministerial role meant he had more time to dedicate to the party, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said he had already shown in the past that he was entirely committed to serving the party.

He did not rule out withdrawing his candidature for the next general election if that was what the party wanted, but added that he would consider such matters at a later stage.

Besides increasing the minimum wage, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi announced four other areas he would be focusing on; continual contact with the party activists and different party structures, investing in the PL’s communications, maintenance of party finances, and measures to improve quality of life.

The deputy leadership election will be held next month.