Salary rise under Labour no match for PN’s five-yearly average – Busuttil

Opposition leader says job-creating industries must be attracted to Malta for real increase in workers’ salaries

Simon Busuttil (file photo)
Simon Busuttil (file photo)

The Nationalist Party has expressed “serious concern” over government’s rising debt, retail and industrial production confidence in the wake of new EU data showing Malta’s record low unemployment figures.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the National Statistics Office’s Labour Force Survey had shown average salaries had risen in the last year by an average €100 over 12 months, in contrast to the average €528 rise annually, for the 2008-2013 period.

“This is not some argument to have artificial rises in salaries, but to have a real increase in workers’ pockets. Attracting job-creating industries to Malta will mean better salaries,” Busuttil told the Chamber of SMEs’ (GRTU) executive in a meeting today.

He described SMEs as the backbone of the economy, and called for a serious national plan for a productive and competitive economy.

“Government’s deficit has increased by €25 million in the last six months, while national debt increased by €440 million in the last 12 months. Government must be clear on where its finances are headed this year,” Busuttil said.

GRTU president Paul Abela was said to have expressed his concerns on the Libyan situation, and called on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development to discuss the matter in a meeting between social partners and the Prime Minister.