Finance minister Edward Scicluna has again complained about Eurostat statistics saying they were giving "a perverse picture" of the economic situation.
Referring particularly to statistics on manufacturing and retail, both of which showed significant drops in the past year, Prof Scicluna said that these results did not tally with what was really going on.
He said that while Eurostat was depicting a gloomy picture, both sectors increased employees during the period.
"I would expect layoffs every day if what Eurostat is saying is true."
Speaking during a business breakfast organised by the Malta Business Weekly, Prof. Scicluna also ruled out a revision of the minimum wage.
He said that only 3.6 per cent of the workforce were on the minimum wage.