PN accuse Joseph Muscat of ‘ignoring’ unemployment rates

Accusing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of “ignoring” Malta’s unemployment rates during the government’s 14 months, the Nationalist Party has this afternoon argued that the increase in Malta’s “soaring” unemployment rates has been confirmed by Eurostat figures.

Eurostat statistics have revealed that Malta’s unemployment rates in March 2014 stood at 6.8%, a 0.4% increase when compared with the corresponding month in 2013. However, unemployment decreased by 0.1% when compared with February 2014. The Eurozone’s unemployment average stands at 11.8%.

In addition, Malta slid two places in the unemployment index, and now has the sixth lowest unemploymen rate in the EU.

While welcoming the government’s employment policy, which amongst its measures includes greater subsidies on maternity leave as well as top-ups on the monthly salary of minimum wage earners, the PN argued that notwithstanding the new policy, the government is not creating employment oppurtunties in new economic niches.

“Even though Joseph Muscat ignored the unemployment rates, the number of unemployment people continued to increase over the past months,” it said.

The PN, whose European elections campaign has seen its candidates and leadership lambast the government over unemployment, took the government to task for not creating immediate solutions to alleviate unemployment rates.

It also argued that the unemployment increases are not tied to any international events or circumstances.

Earlier today, Jean Claude Juncker – the EPP candidate for the President of the European Commission – warned Malta over its unemployment rates, insisting that if Malta’s rates were to reach 7.5%, it would be threading on thin ice.

While acknowldging that Malta’s unemployment rates are stable and relatively low when compared with the EU average, Juncker claimed that figures would reach 7.5%, there would be “no going back” as it would be staring further increases.