Malta's first Youth Employment Center is due to open in Birkirkara later this year, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli said today.

The centre will be operated by the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) assisted by youth workers.

"The purpose of the Youth Employment Centre will be to seek innovative ways to reach young people looking for a job. We have to move away from the usual concept of seeking out a person behind a desk to give you advice," a spokesman for Mr Puli's office later explained.

He said these 'innovative ways' were currently under discussion in the ETC.

Youth unemployment dropped by 533 in 2008 but rose again last year. The youth unemployment rate is currently 8% compared to an EU average of 10%.

Mr Puli, who was speaking at a press conference on the work by his secretariat last year, also announced that youth workers could soon be recognised as professionals if a draft Bill, presented to government some days ago, is approved by Cabinet for legislation.

He said that the ETC last year found work for over 2,000 young people.

Turning to sports, he said a recent Eurobarometer survey showed that 62 per cent of Maltese people practiced some form of sport. Research also showed that people wished to have sports complexes in their localities. This year the government would be opening 16 new football grounds, a sports complex in Kirkop and the Ta’ Qali outdoor fitness centre.

SPORTS VILLAGE

Preparations were also being made to build a sports village in Marsa with the collaboration of the private sector.

One idea, he said, was to include accommodation facilities in the village to attract sports tourism. Last year, he added, this type of tourism attracted 22,000 bed nights and generated some €1.2 million.