In his article entitled ‘The employment debate’ (September 2), Education and Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo claimed that the Opposition gets an ‘A’ for negativity and an ‘F’ for policymaking.
I find it ironic for the minister to describe the Opposition as negative at the end of an article that is all negative in content.
I also find it ironic that he should describe the Opposition as not being able to “make policy”.
Maybe it’s high time for Bartolo to realise that, as minister responsible for education and employment, he is de facto the policymaker. Did he and his colleagues not say that they had a road map? Perhaps they should finally roll it out of their closet and start following it. That is, if it really exists.
The minister should know that the first step towards finding a solution is identifying the problem. So, rather than resorting to ostrich tactics and ignoring the Opposition’s concerns, let’s get down to business. Let’s start with official employment figures issued by the government since they are definitely not a point of contention.
The Education and Employment Minister was unable to correctly interpret the economic data
Since Labour took power in March last year, the official figures show that the number of employees within the public sector increased by 1,900. That is a fact. Now, of course, 1,900 is no small number for a government which promised to reduce public sector employees by 500 a year.
This is the same government which promised the European Commission that it would take action to cut down on public sector employment.
Let’s consider the angle that the government was talking about - a reduction in relative terms. Statistics show that in relative terms public sector employment as a percentage of total employment increased marginally. Therefore, the statistics tell us that, despite the government’s empty promises, there was, in fact, no decline.
The other day, I was watching PBS news and I was shocked at the way that our national broadcaster tried to give the impression that the drastic increase of 1,900 employees within the public sector during the last year and a half is something normal and nothing out of this world.
Labour’s cronies get an ‘A’ for deception and an ‘F’ for credibility.
The concern of a growing public sector does not emerge only from employment statistics. The Opposition’s criticism that this government is implementing a retrograde economic policy is corroborated by the recently-published national accounts framework and the corresponding gross domestic product figures.
As per latest releases by the National Statistics Office, public administration in the second quarter of this year contributed to 35 per cent of the reported nominal economic growth compared to previous year levels. Moreover, half of the salary increases in the economy were reported in the civil service.
If this post-electoral benevolence were coming from Labour’s coffers this would actually be a good thing.
Not so when one considers that, in fact, these costs are to be financed by taxpayer’s current and future earnings.
This mentality is identical to the economic philosophy which reigned decades ago when old Labour was still in government.
The government is seen to be the private citizen’s Big Brother, directly intervening to correct the government’s inadequacies in strengthening the private sector and failing to come up with a sustainable economic policy.
The insistence by Bartolo and his colleagues to ignore the economic warning signs and, instead, defend their erroneous judgement raises serious concerns on their credibility and the collective credibility of the Prime Minister’s largest Cabinet in history. Did the minister make a ‘mistake’ or is he intentionally trying to have us believe that public sector employment is falling?
Based on Labour’s persistent campaign tactics, I opine that this is yet another attempt to twist economic facts by those who forget that they are the policymakers.
This is in stark contrast to what citizens have been calling for: transparency and accountability in government operations.
In either case, what is clear is that the minister was unable to correctly interpret the economic data.
If he cannot get this simple task right, he is probably unable to be fully entrusted with the driving seat.
In any case, that is just where he is and the Opposition will persevere in its obligation to monitor government activities and identify problems before they turn into national crises.
Given this latest gaffe, I suggest that Bartolo avoids interpreting statistics on employment. We don’t want him to have to resort to traditional Labour tactics of turning his guns on some public sector employee and forcing him to take the fall for his mistakes.
The ball is now in Joseph Muscat and Bartolo’s court. The government must work harder. Raising the standard of living and the welfare of citizens is not a one-off task. It’s a constant challenge which the government has the responsibility to meet.
Stephen Spiteri is the Opposition spokesman for employment and people with disability.