Sickness days claimed by public service employees decreased from 56.9 percent in 2004 to 49.7 percent in 2008 but the reverse was true in the private sector, where sickness days rose from 43.1 percent to 50.3 percent during the same period, an NSO study published this morning shows. Employers' spending on sick leave rose by €3.6 million to €38.2 million.

The study, focused on the social sector, found that government spending on social protection rose by almost 29 percent between 2004 and 2008 to reach over €1,070.8 million.

Spending on the running of the Malta general hospital between 2004 and 2008 rose by €26.3 million to reach €104.3 million. Spending rose by almost €20 million in just one year between 2008 and 2007.

Government expenditure on migrants in 2008 reached €9.1 million

Almost €1 million were spent in 2008 on the pensioners' route bus subsidy. Another €400,000 were spent on the pensioners' Gozo ferry boat subsidy.