Unemployment alarming, even by Mintoff’s yardstick – De Marco

While bemoaning the government’s failed ‘roadmap’ to deliver sound economic results and a better life to the electorate, PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco has insisted that a year into its legislature, the government’s economic performance should be judged on the yardstick of the former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff: that the ‘best measurement for the economy is employment'.

De Marco, who in recent months has spearheaded the Opposition’s criticism of the “soaring” unemployment rates in Malta, argued that when measuring the economy using Mintoff’s philosophy, it transpires that the government did not deliver on its roadmap, as conversely, the country has posted increase in unemployment rates.

Malta’s unemployment rates have seen the government and the opposition engage in a tit-for-tat battle with the Opposition accusing the Labour administration of “masking the truth” and of “denying the truth”, while on the other hand, the government, particularly Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, is arguing that the Malta is delivering on its ambitious economic goals.

“In the run up to the election, the Labour Party had reassured the country that it would hit the ground running, but now, a year into its legislature, it is clear that the government has not delivered on its ‘roadmap’,” the PN Deputy Leader said.

De Marco said that by using Mintoff’s yardstick, the Maltese economic performance is far from good due to the increasing unemployment rates.

“Is this how the government is implementing its roadmap - by increasing unemployment? In its first year, Malta’s unemployment increased to almost 7%, while similarly the people registering for work, youth unemployment and women seeking jobs have all increased,” he argued.

The PN’s deputy leader also argued that youth unemployment, which is considered as one of Europe’s foremost of worries, increased to 15%, up by 3% over the corresponding year.

Recent statistics have shown that in 2013, Malta’s unemployment increased by 0.5% when compared to the previous year.

On the other hand, a Labour Force Survey showed a 2.8% increase in employment during the fourth quarter of 2013, and in addition, activity rates among men and women increased by 2.3% and 1.1% respectively. Nevertheless, it revealed that 45.4% of unemployed persons had been seeking work for at least a year.

When compared with the EU average, Malta’s unemployment rates are the fifth lowest, while recent PQs have revealed that 21,235 foreign workers make up Malta’s workforce.