Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/528426
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015 3 TIM DEACONO CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 She ar- gued that previous governments had been legislating as though everyone is either a man or a woman. "Some people feel excluded from society because their gen- der identity isn't mainstream," Dalli said. "Transgender and intersex people have difficult enough lives to begin with and the government shouldn't pile on the pressure and humiliation for them. "Trans-people are among the most bullied groups and have a high rate of suicide, because legislators have made their lives more difficult." She said that the government would issue stipends to youths who carry out voluntary work, so as to attract students towards a voluntary job rather than a part- time job, hence endowing them with a "sense of self lessness and responsibility". She said that the government has introduced measures for employers to cut down on pre- carious work, such as the black- listing from public tenders of companies that are found in breach of public procurement regulations or employment laws. She added that the government has increased the number of health and safety inspectors and that workplace fatalities have de- creased. However, she said that more focus must be placed on combatting mental health and stress in the workplace. She also revealed that a White Paper on a law on cohabitation would be released for public con- sultation before the end of June. "Cohabiting couples aren't reg- ulated as married couples or civil unions are," Dalli said in the lat- est of a public consultation ses- sion 'Gvern li Jisma'. "Therefore, such couples who break up don't have the legal rights that sepa- rated married couples enjoy." News TURKIYE GENEL 14.5x18cm ING.indd 1 6/4/15 10:10 AM Marlene Farrugia fears future generations 'will suffer for the sins we commit' MIRIAM DALLI LABOUR MP Marlene Farru- gia fears that the "sins being committed by this side of the House" will haunt future gen- erations while she condemned the pressure workers faced to serve the political needs of the government, rather than the people's. In her intervention during the parliamentary debate on MEPA's financial estimates, Farrugia said the authority should work to convince the people that it was really work- ing in the best interest of the country and not feel the obli- gation to serve the politician before the people. "I am concerned that even in parliament we are leading to a degeneration of debates by launching ourselves into political bickering. Ever since its inception, MEPA was mis- used by every party in gov- ernment. For 25 years it was a pawn in the PN's hands; now, I am much concerned that the same is happening under this Labour administration," Far- rugia said. The vociferous MP ques- tioned whether there was po- litical interference in the lead- ership of MEPA: "We should allow all officials to work in- dependently of any political party and to be able to carry out their work at liberty with- out feeling the need to accom- modate the government of the day." Farrugia said the Maltese electorate had voted in favour of meritocracy and against "political oppression". "If we want MEPA to safe- guard our quality of living, we must allow it to do its work and to be autonomous." Farrugia said that if MEPA remains in the hands of poli- ticians, controlled to serve the needs of the government of the day, "in the years to come we will be sorry for the sins which this side of the House is committing". The backbencher said the Labour administration was in power thanks to the battle cry of meritocracy and Malta for all, but this was not being honoured. White Paper on cohabitation to be launched soon YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Helena Dalli: 'Trans-people are among the most bullied'