Quick fixes were not the right answer to the economic problems besetting the world, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said said this morning in a message to the annual Conference of the International Labour Organisation.

The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for industrial and employment relations said that the right balance had to be sought.

“It is better to have a slow and gradual recovery than to kill the patient by administering too strong a dose of medicine. We must not simply aim at increasing jobs but at increasing quality jobs,” he said.

Citing the Maltese example, Dr Said said that “the Maltese government has continued to support productive and sustainable enterprises which are facing difficulties.

“These measures, which include improving enterprise access to credit, shorter working hours and employee retraining, are bearing fruit.

“Survival concerns of some of these enterprises are gradually receding as evidenced by increased investment and new recruitment.”

Dr argued that the downturn in the economy should not have a negative impact on core services related to education, health and social protection. Without these services, the ideals of social justice and sustainable economic development could not flourish.

The Maltese government, he said, continued to give priority to education, health and social policy increasing expenditure by six to eight over 2009 levels.

These budget measures were undertaken after long and productive discussions with the social partners to find consensus on the best way forward.

Dr Said called on delegates not to forget or ignore the vulnerable, the weak or the marginalised in their societies.

“”Whilst acknowledging that fiscal consolidation measures are required, this goal must be pursued in parallel and with the same determination as the pursuit of increased quality employment.

“As we hopefully begin to emerge from this crisis, it is even more important to integrate decent work as a goal in national policy agendas aimed at increasing employment and improving economies,” he said.

Dr Said said the Maltese government has been also careful in implementing fiscal austerity measures. In its budget for this year, expenditure was kept as far as possible to last year’s levels or lower, public sector recruitment was considerably reduced, and efforts against fraud in income and expenditure or related to social benefit abuse and tax evasion were intensified.

He acknowledged the social partners’ input and said that the government was grateful for their support.