PM: Jobs most important issue in this election
The prime minister insisted once more today that unemployment remained the most important issue in this general election.
Speaking in Sta Lucija, he said that the most important issue was about which party was best positioned to create jobs, and that was the PN.
The PN had a track record which everyone could verify. Labour had a wish list but no real record. The only records which people could remember about labour in government were economic recession and record unemployment.
Dr Gonzi said that Malta was no exception and it still faced economic challenges like the rest of the EU.
During this legislature the government had intervened to save 5000 jobs. This was possible because the economy had been restructured. But Dr Muscat has admitted on Tuesday that he did not agree that the government should have stopped subsidising the dockyard which was losing the country some 35 million euros a year.
Teresa Jimenez Becerril, a Spanish MEP, said Malta was a country that was a success in the EU. In contrast, Spain are facing hard times. "We in Spain wish we were in Malta's economic position."
Spain, she said, had just emerged from years of socialist rule in which the real situation of public finances was hidden. Her appeal, she said, was for the Maltese not to change a winning horse.
31 Comments
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Victor Buhagiar
Feb 28th, 19:05
Agreed Dr Gonzi BUT what type of jobs, like teh one you provided us with? Workers are humans and every Government should insist on improving the employment conditions not work to reduce them and place the workers at the mercy of their employers.
And please send you Spanish Colleague back home she is the last to teach us - we have a lot of hidden things that needs to be exposed like FINANZI.
Michael Sammut
Feb 28th, 17:25
"Spain, she said, had just emerged from years of socialist rule in which the real situation of public finances was hidden." Invariably this is what happens when a single government stays in power for too long. We need to find out what has been hidden too, hence the need for change.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 28th, 12:14
How can one declare that jobs are the issue when jobs are very much dependent on the energy bills.
It has been said over and over agasain by businessmen of all soarts, tourist concerns and manufacturers that the energy bills have been the main reason in loss of profits ven resulting in closure in a good number of instances
steven micallef
Feb 28th, 11:22
kif tista tikritka lil pl fuq ix xoghol meta int lanqas qrajt il programm tal pl
Paul Meilak
Feb 28th, 10:37
Ghaziz poplu... la tikriha jkollok toqghod ghaliha ! ATTENT !
Dont take the risk of loosing stability which is the fulcrum of everything !
The French people want Sarkozy back but now its too late !
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 28th, 11:17
Anyone that inherits a ruined country is espected to reform & make miracles in a few months. At least give one the same number of years that took the previous one to bring a nation to its knees. This has nothing to do with Socilaism or Capitalism or whatever. The only thing in common is corruption, which in our country reigns high as well. Unless that is eradicated, things shall worsen!
John Azzopoardi
Feb 28th, 10:04
when people have jobs like they do in Malta, the most important issue is not jobs for them. It is the cost of living. Maltese almost have it made. the job is that when PL gets elected, they don't blow it. And the people will get what they have asked for. If they think they are going to get too many goodies, they are wrong. But in the end, it's up to the people to make the democratic choice
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 28th, 05:52
Employment is always one of the most important issues in any election and this is why we need a change. Dr Gonzi had failed to attract the high calibre jobs that we need. The only project that was to supply this type of job i.e., SmartCity has failed. At the moment the only jobs that are available are low paying jobs which is why so many have crossed the poverty line.
Mr Anthony Briffa
Feb 28th, 07:29
Are you living on another planet CC? You can vote labour as much as you like but you can never write such a comment in the current employment situation in Malta. Before writing you should have spoken to the graduates, both from the University and Mcast, about the opportunities and salaries they are being offered. SC will come to fruitition with a healthy international situation, wait and see.
Leonard Brincat
Feb 28th, 08:55
Mr Briffa.
Nassigurak li hawn hafna gradwati li veru isibu xoghol imma 1,100 fix xahar u naf x jien nghid. Ma iffisirx li ma hawnx jobs paga ahjar imma il maggor parti tal jobs f dak l ima qedin 1,100----1,300 ghal gradwati ghax ghall haddiehor 700---800 fix xahar
Peter Zahra
Feb 28th, 08:56
For you info Smart City is still being constructed and the project will be finalised in due course. I think that this project is far better off then the "Fabrika tal Kappar" which was one of the projects proposed under those Golden years (1980's) when Karmenu Vella, Leo Brincat etc.., formed part and are still today part of this so called moviment gdid which you seem to support !!
C. Vella
Feb 28th, 09:05
@Anthony Briffa: How much people have you asked? The IT sector is almost saturated with graduates from MCAST, University & external Universities. I know MCAST graduates, with a degree, that work as call centre agents or technicians. My friend after graduated took him 1 year to find a job in IT. What I know is that there are several people working with 2 part times or precarious jobs.
Paul Meilak
Feb 28th, 10:47
Sur CJ Caruana Smart City is still in progress. I think you are one of those who must thank this Government for modernisinig and expanding the sectors including the departments of IT, Health, Education and others like departments of BioChemistry and Medical Physics.
Are you one of those who will buy a new car if PL is elected ? ( just to give the impression that PL is terminating poverty )
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 28th, 11:12
Well said and true Mr. Caruana. There are many who hold part-time jobs or jobs with a limited period of 3-6 months with a minimum wage. It is true that it is better than nothing, but one should qualify and quantify the type of jobs that have been created and whether the future going to be the same i.e. uncertain!!
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 28th, 19:56
Mr Briffa and Mr Meilaq I very much doubt whether Smart City will take off. The Czech Republic built their Smart City in Prague almost 8 years ago (before the last election!!!) - they're all there MIcrosoft, DEL, DHL, Oracle etc and we still havent finished the building! Personally I think we missed the big opportunities in IT. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 28th, 04:44
The miracle of 45,000 jobs prior elections instead of Xmas.
Andrew Vella
Feb 27th, 22:13
You're so right Dr Gonzi! I work the manufacuring industry and I acknowledge that your government's hard work and dedication has saved my job. THANK YOU FOR SAFEGUARDING MY FAMILY'S WELLBEING.
B. Farrugia
Feb 28th, 09:07
WELL SAID.
Thomas C. Cassar
Feb 27th, 22:12
Il-PN holoq hafna jobs, imma b'paga tal-qamel, kullhadd jaqla 700 ewro fix-xahar jew anqas.
Peter Zahra
Feb 28th, 09:07
Tista tispjegali mela kif Malta tigi 2 fl Ewropa bhala tkabir Ekonimiku, kif per ezempju jinhatfu shares meta johorgu ghal bejh, kif hafna nies jmoru jieklu ta spiss f restaurants, safar ghal wahda tnejn f sena, weekend breaks etc ?? U x nghidu ghal karozzi,dghajjes u muturi??Tiftakarhom iz zghazagh b x Ford Escort mark 1 mlaqta kollha hard metal, mentri lum kollha b xi BMW, b iphones, ipads etc.!
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 28th, 11:06
@ P. Zahra - Hawn xi hadd li mhux kapaci jissellef u jonfoq? U l-Credit Crunch insejtu? Ma tafx li barra d-dejn nazzjonali ta' €6 bn, li jidhru, hemm ukoll ruxxmata dejn personali fuq karozzi, muturi, djar, credit cards, dghajjes, etc? U l-faqar, kwazi 25% fuq it-tfal, li dejjem qed jizdied? Din gustizzja? Min hu mejjet fis-sakra u min qed isir mejjet ghall-qatra! Il-ligi tal-gungla tirrenja!!
Eve Axiaq
Feb 28th, 11:27
@ Zahra
Today many people live beyond their means. Yesterdays youths with Escort mark 1 didnt had €100,000 (or more) in debts.
And who is actually buying bonds and shares? The rich (which are only getting richer)and some elder people who didn't had to take huge mortgages in their life and prefer savings than spending.
Peter Zahra
Feb 28th, 12:41
@E Axiaq & JG Attard - Ghaliex ma ticekkjawx daqxejn kemm zdiedu d depositi fil banek matul dan l ahhar snin qabel ma toqghod tpingu li donu li kulhadd mejjet bil guh hawn Malta?Jekk x hadd jiehu loan ta 100,000 biex jixtri dar,hija x haga hazina? Dak investiment u ibqaw certi li l bank mhux daqshekk imbeccili li ha jsellfek jekk ma ghandekx IMPJIEG b paga tajba li tista thallas dak il loan !!!
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 28th, 19:59
Peter Zahra. Facli tispjega ir-restaurants, safaer, karozzi etc - 'l fuq minn 5000 milljun Euro dejn nazzjonali li kollu jrid jithallas - malajr se jtiru 'l-karozzi etc
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 28th, 20:02
Sur Zahra, fuq Malta it-2 fl Ewropa bhala tkabbir Ekonomiku - I will believe it when I see it. Barroso jhobb ighinu lill-Gonzi - bhal ma fl-opinjoni tieghi ghad insibu li ghinu biex jelimina lill-Dalli. Birds of a feather flock together.
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 27th, 20:22
The most important issue in the election is the eradication of corruption and of provocative, evil propaganda, and the return of morality and ethics into politics. Then governing shall be much easier and transparent, and the majority shall be happy. At the moment evil reigns.
Peter Agius
Feb 28th, 04:34
"The return of ethics into politics".....like in the 70's and 80's maybe??
B. Farrugia
Feb 28th, 09:09
We need to be much much, better than the 60`s, 70`s, 80`s, 90`s, and after,
we need to start a new chapter altogether.
Luke Falzon
Feb 27th, 20:10
"The only records which people could remember about labour in government were economic recession and record unemployment."
How about records which include setting up Air Malta, the Dry Docks, Sea Malta, etc. Basically the companies which have failed under this government not Labour.
jm busuttil
Feb 27th, 20:36
At least I do not need to pay for the Dry Docks.
Carmel Serracino-inglott
Feb 27th, 21:51
Are you honest ?
Please choose the reason of your report below: