Quick fixes “not the right answer” for global economic problems, Said tells ILO

“The right balance has to be sought. It is better to have a slow and gradual recovery than to kill the patient by administering too strong a dose of medicine. We must not simply aim at increasing jobs but at increasing quality jobs”, Said told the ILO.

The Maltese government had continued to support productive and sustainable enterprises which were facing difficulties.

“These measures, which include improving enterprise access to credit, shorter working hours and employee retraining, are bearing fruit,” the parliamentary secretary explained.

“Survival concerns of some of these enterprises are gradually receding as evidenced by increased investment and new recruitment,” he insisted.

Said also argued that the downturn in the economy “should not have a negative impact on core services related to education, health and social protection. Without these services, the ideals of social justice and sustainable economic development cannot flourish”.

The Maltese Government had continued to give priority to education, health and social policy, Said added, increasing expenditure by 6% to 8% over 2009 levels.

“Importantly, and to our satisfaction, these budget measures were undertaken after long and productive discussions with the social partners to find consensus on the best way forward in these trying times."

He called on the delegates present not to forget or ignore the vulnerable, the weak or the marginalised in their societies.

“Whilst acknowledging that fiscal consolidation measures are required, this goal must be pursued in parallel and with the same determination as the pursuit of increased quality employment,” Said insisted

As we hopefully began to emerge from this crisis, “it is even more important to integrate decent work as a goal in national policy agendas aimed at increasing employment and improving economies”, he added.

Said explained how the Maltese Government had been “careful” in implementing fiscal austerity measures.

“In Government’s Budget for 2010, expenditure was kept as far as possible to 2009 levels or even lower, public sector recruitment was considerably reduced, and efforts against fraud in income and expenditure or related to social benefit abuse and tax evasion were intensified,” Said told the ILO Annual General Assembly.