The Nationalist Party on Wednesday called for industries with "higher value added" investment, reiterating calls for a long-term plan in economic growth. 

Speaking on Labour day at the party headquarters, PN MP Karl Gouder said the economic plan being pushed by the Labour government would create trouble for the country in both the short-term and long-term. 

The government was depending on population growth for economic growth, Mr Gouder said, adding that foreign workers being brought into the country were not being treated well. It was unacceptable that workers were being paid as little as €1 an hour, he added. 

Despite economic growth, EU data show wages in Malta had the lowest increases, he added.

"We expect that in a good economic climate, we would be doing better than this," Mr Gouder said.

MEP candidate Michael Mercieca reiterated calls for sectors with higher value-added investment, saying industries should not depend on workers with lower wages to thrive. 

Turning to statistics showing Malta had the second number of early school leavers in Europe, Mr Mercieca said the country needed to ensure there would be no "skills-gap". 

Students and workers should be able to compete for high-level jobs with high wages, Mr Mercieca said.