Minister hosts first meeting of active labour market committee

Chaired by economist Clyde Caruana and presided over by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, the Active Labour Market Policy (ALMP) counselling and action committee held its first meeting at the education ministry today.

Better known as the Jobs+, the labour market policy was a Union Haddiema Maqghudin proposal for Budget 2013 which enjoyed the consensus of all social partners, the Labour, Nationalist and Green parties, all of whom became signatories to the declaration during the electoral campaign.

The committee is expected to focus on the implementation of the policy, with special attention to the youth guarantee for over-16 school-leavers, and other initiatives to stimulate working opportunities amongst young people.

Projects which could be financed through the European Social Fund 2014-2020 will also be discussed.

The minister said it was equally important to single out those skills which were lacking in Malta and to work on them. He expressed concern over the lack of practical preparation students had before entering a workplace.

"This could be addressed through apprenticeships and work placements," he said, adding that University students wanted to enjoy the same working experience which students at MCAST had.

The minister also said the government was committed in its fight against unemployment.

"Even though Malta's rate of unemployment is one if the lowest among the EU, this shouldn't be of solace. We have to see why there are people without a jib and whether this was tied to social or economic issues."