Where the parties stand | Jobs

Figures on unemployment published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union show that Malta registered the fifth-lowest rate at 6.6%.

The PN has presented this election as a choice between the PN's positive employment record and the unknown posed by a Labour government. But unemployment is actually rising.

Various European-wide surveys also show that unlike other Europeans, the Maltese do not consider unemployment as one of their main concerns. Yet, this could pose a problem for the PN as people tend to vote on issues, which are directly effecting and not about possible risks.

In the 12 months to December 2012, administrative records of the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) indicated an increase of 224 - or 3.4% - in the number of registered unemployed persons. On the other hand, the number of persons out of work went down by 287 - or 4.0% - in December when compared to November.

During 2012, unemployment among men went up by 125 (2.4%). On the other hand, month on-month, male registrants showed a decrease of 184 persons (3.4%). In turn, unemployment among women went up by 99 (6.9%), on a twelve-month basis. Female registrants went down by 103 (6.3%), in December over the preceding month.

Labour and Alternattiva Demokratika have also raised the issue of precarious employment insisting that the question is not just how many jobs are being created but what kind of jobs are being created.

54% of cleaning workers who were found to be employed in breach of employment regulations, had cleaning-duty placements inside government departments, public authorities, and public hospitals - a survey by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality among 602 vulnerable employees, 210 of which were cleaners, found. The survey describes the employment of these vulnerable workers in companies providing services to government as a "rather worrying finding".

The electoral campaign has also seen AD pushing the idea of an increase in the minimum wage as proposed by Caritas in a report issued last year. But both major parties have excluded such an increase.

On the other hand, this election sees all three parties converging on the 'Jobs Plus' active market proposal presented by the Union Haddiema Maqghudin.