Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has criticised Opposition leader Adrian Delia’s comments on foreign workers, saying they are needed to sustain economic growth.

Dr Muscat's comments came 24 hours after Dr Delia had expressed concern that the influx of foreigners is changing Malta's identity and social fabric.

The Prime Minister was addressing the annual conference of Forum, a trade union confederation. Dr Delia was also present at the event.

He said he had a much more positive view on foreign workers and reiterated his vision of Malta becoming a "cosmopolitan" society.

"If we are to sustain our economy, for our country to grow at the rate it’s growing, we need an influx of foreign migrants," he said.

It was in Maltese employers' interest to ensure that foreign and local workers had equal rights, he added.

READ: Thousands of foreign workers needed for economic growth - JobsPlus

The Prime Minister also called for the creation of a trade union council, which he said would increase dialogue between social stakeholders. He noted that it had been 25 years since the last general strike had been called. 

Industrial action needed to be respected but this respect was a two-way street, the Prime Minister said. 

Having rules of engagement in place would ease tensions between unions during for instance talks on collective agreements, Dr Muscat added.