The 2.1 per cent increase in wages recorded in Malta between July and September exceeded the EU average of 1.4 per cent.

This contradicted the Opposition’s claims that workers were being left with less money in their pockets, the government said in the wake of a recently published Eurostat report.

The government also noted that the reduction in utility rates contributed to keeping the cost of living under control, as during the third quarter of this year the inflation rate was below 0.4 per cent.

It also pointed out that the highest increase in wages was registered in the construction sector with 4.4 per cent.

In manufacturing, a marginal rise was recorded following the drop in wages in the previous 12 months.