Malta has the fourth lowest unemployment rate in Europe and last year we lowered our unemployment rate more than all the other EU countries.

To continue luring more females into the labour force, Budget 2011 has, once again, offered very attractive incentives. So far, over 6,566 mothers have taken advantage of this measure.

The key to job creation is education and Budget 2011 continues to invest heavily in this sector.

Next year’s budgetary allocation will reach €340 million; the University’s funds alone will increase by €3.5 million. Apart from offering attractive tax rebates to parents who send their children to private schools, the government has wisely introduced an incentive to workers on minimum wage. It is offering them a weekly €25 allowance if they enroll in training courses to better their skills. The Employment and Training Corporation will also be paying part of the national insurance contribution of all workers who continue their training.

While other countries are laying off workers and increasing education fees, in Malta the opposite is happening. The difficult decisions and different approach taken by the Nationalist government during the international financial crisis are definitely leaving positive and encouraging results.