It is difficult to imagine that Maltese trade unions are not fully aware of what is happening in a string of EU member countries insofar as austerity measures are concerned. So why are a number of them giving the impression that the island is in the grip of a raft of them?

Millions of workers are being directly hit as governments across Europe resort to greater austerity measures to put their finances in order. Many are arguing that these are counter-productive, but governments finding themselves with their back to the wall do not agree with this view, holding that their number one priority remains that of keeping intact their drive to bring deficits and national debts down.

Malta has not escaped the impact of the difficulties these countries have been facing since the start of the credit crunch and the subsequent recession, but the country has been weathering the storm. It did not take the country long to emerge from recession, and only a few days ago the European Commission gave the country a relatively clean bill of health.

This is not to say there are no problems. There are, but the country has managed to do so well that the Commission has even proposed to lift the excessive deficit procedure it launched in 2009 when the deficit rose above four per cent of the gross domestic product.

According to its autumn report, Malta managed to bring down the deficit to 2.7 per cent by the deadline set by the Commission, which was the end of last year. Not only has Malta managed to bring the deficit down, but the Commission says that, while the euro area economy is expected to contract this year and will only grow by 0.1 per cent in 2013, Malta is expected to close this year with an economic growth of one per cent. And next year, the growth rate is expected to be 1.6 per cent.

Local trade unions are not that isolated from mainland Europe not take full account of the sharp difference in the situation facing Malta and the countries struggling to correct their deficits. But then they seem to strike quite an unrealistic chord when they claim Maltese workers are having to endure their fair share of austerity measures in the shape of the high water and electricity rates and, in the case of an increasing number of workers, sub-standard working conditions.

Few would dispute the fact that the energy rates are a burden to householders, but to go on from there and give the impression that Maltese workers are badly affected by austerity measures is a somewhat exaggerated assessment, unrelated to the reality of the situation on the ground, more so when considering that the administration also helps those who are unable to meet their bills.

There would need to be a sense of moderation and balance when it comes to comparing the local situation with that in other European countries. To put the situation in the right perspective, measures being taken by some countries today include the reduction of the minimum wage; pay freezes and reduction of salary bonuses; pension cuts; reduction of severance pay and in vacation leave; easing of restrictions on layoffs; and a reduction in the duration and amount of unemployment and welfare benefits.

The sharp rise in local energy rates may hurt but, in terms of austerity measures, Malta does not come anywhere close to other countries.