A draft document on "flexicurity" discussed during yesterday's meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) is recommending the strengthening of enforcement to curb illegal work.
If the recommendation is approved, the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) will have until the end of the year to come up with ways to reach this aim, parliamentary secretary Chris Said said yesterday.
The document, which will be finalised in the coming weeks, addresses the concept of job security while keeping in mind the importance of work flexibility.
Although illegal work might not be as widespread as one thinks, it still leaves a negative impact on the country's structures.
Malta will be striving to increase skilled labour at both ends of the spectrum - both among highly skilled workers and those who need few skills. Efforts will be made to ensure that social security is not an incentive for people not to get a job, Dr Said said.
Malta will also take on the ambitious task of compiling a skills audit for the whole of the country by the end of 2010, if the recommendation is approved.
The document calls for a feasibility study on school structures and how they can be used for after-school care which would make it easier for parents to go to work.
The working group that drafted the document included employer and trade union representatives and was chaired by ETC chief executive officer Sue Vella.
During yesterday afternoon's meeting, the council also decided not to take a common stand on the rent reform proposals.
Dr Said explained that, although all the organisations on the council agree with the reform in principle, there were divergences of opinion when it came to the details, and it was agreed that each will make their own recommendations to Social Policy Minister John Dalli, who is spearheading the reform.
It was also agreed to set up a civil society committee for Gozo.
The council has a similar committee for Malta, which will be restructured to include more representation from civil society.
The Gozo committee will discuss the needs of the island and report back to the council.