The indication given by Labour leader Alfred Sant that reaching a balanced budget by 2010 was not a top priority for his party would only harm the country, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi warned yesterday.
"This declaration sends ripples through the country's economic process, creating instability and uncertainty," he said.
Dr Sant's comments, he said, also suggest that a Labour government would let the deficit grow, making a budget surplus impossible to attain by 2010.
"This is déjà vu; something we have already seen when the country was last under a Labour government."
Failing to make this "crucial" economic target a top priority would instil doubts within credit-rating agencies, which would react to this "irresponsible" statement, affect investors' trust and endanger thousands of jobs.
Dr Gonzi described the MLP's electoral campaign as a "comedy of errors", with something new uncovered every day.
Speaking at the Bulebel Industrial Estate, next to a billboard bearing the slogan Gonzi Jġib ix-Xogħol (Gonzi brings work), the Prime Minister said Labour was doing its utmost to make people forget its 1996-1998 government, which was marked by record unemployment caused by confusion.
The guarantee of job opportunities could be lost very quickly if the party in government embraced a policy which brought uncertainty and threatened economic and financial stability.
"We are committed to continue creating jobs that offer better working conditions," he said.
The Nationalist government had created jobs whenever it was in office and the Maltese could put their mind at rest on that score.
The current figure of more than 168,700 people gainfully employed was an all-time high. The unemployment rate was the lowest in 12 years, despite the closure of several factories, he noted.
"A Nationalist government does not create jobs in government corps or by employing some 8,000 in the public sector on the eve of an election."
Dr Gonzi said 5,000 jobs needed to be created annually to ensure unemployment did not swell. Labour's promise to create some 2,000 jobs a year meant unemployment would go up by 3,000 annually.
"This would be a disaster for workers, those looking for work and those who are studying."
Dr Gonzi stressed the importance of competitiveness to attract investment, especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals, call centres and ICT. However, competition could not be achieved at the expense of working conditions.
There were workers who were still being exploited, and he pledged to ensure that workers' rights would be strengthened. This included changing the law which enabled employers to make staff work as self-employed to hinder them from benefitting from the conditions and benefits they deserved.
Referring to jobs lost in the textiles sector, Dr Gonzi said the government had invested in the training of workers so that they could find alternative work. Last week the European Commission approved some €700,000 (Lm300,510) for Malta as part of a package of personalised services for workers who lost their job because of globalisation.
Asked whether his government would change the current situation where workers do not get a day added to their leave entitlement for public holidays falling on a weekend, Dr Gonzi said if experts told him this could lead to the closure of factories, he would choose to protect jobs.
Dr Gonzi mentioned a number of proposals included in his party's electoral manifesto, including the creation of more jobs - also through the use of €130 million (Lm55.8 million) from the European Social Fund - increasing internet access and other proposals to help the tourism industry.