Judiciary pay rise ‘would form part of package’

Government would be willing to address the financial package of members of the judiciary if both sides reached "a clear agreement" and "changes to work practices" are carried out, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening.

Muscat is currently in Brussels where he is attending a meeting of the Heads of State and Government. The focus of this evening's meeting is youth unemployment and economic growth.

The Council is also discussing the country specific recommendations, which for the first time for Malta has included the judicial system, whose "inefficiencies pose a further risk to financial stability".

Muscat said this has reinforced his government's decision to commission a reform of the judiciary. Asked whether the government would be carrying out changes to the members' financial package and give them a raise, the Prime Minister said this would have "to form part of a package".

"We have to reach a clear agreement and members of the judiciary must be ready to agree to changes in work practices," he said.

Muscat said "the numbers of closed or pending cases of certain members of the judiciary are unacceptable".

"The country's top pillars have to lead by example. We will not intrude in the judiciary's work, but the judiciary must understand that certain changes are needed," he insisted, before adding he was "convinced the Chief Justice understood".

Muscat said the performance of certain members of the judificiary was not satisfactory, when these were compared with one another. He did not mention names.

Without delving further, he said the required changes needed would not go down well with everyone but the present situation could no longer be tollerated.

The European Union has agreed to fork out €6 billion for scheme under the youth guarantee programme - funds however which Malta will not benefit from as the rate of youth unemployment is under 25%.

"We must deem ourselves fortunate that we don't qualify for this scheme," Muscat told journalists in Brussels this evening, adding that Malta's 14% rate of youth unemployment was still high.

With the youth guarantee for education, training and employment forming part of Labour's electoral programme, Muscat has pledged to start allocating funds as from the coming budget.

The EU's top institutions today also reached a political deal for the allocation of a €960 billion multi financial framework 2014-2020. Muscat expressed his satisfaction that cuts made to the EU budget did not affect funds originally allocated to Malta.

Making Malta's position clear in favour of decreasing youth unemployment, Muscat urged EU leaders to also consider helping youths set up their own business.

"Youth unemployment should not be seen as solely placing a young individual in employment but also helping them in setting up their own business," he said, insisting that SMEs played a crucial part in a country's economic growth.

The European Commission's country specific recommendation for Malta has once again raised the issues of pensions and their sustainability. According to the Commission, Malta's challenge is in view of the budgetary impact of ageing which is projected to considerably exceed the EU average; it also pointed out that when compared to other member states the statutory retirement age remained low.

According to the Prime Minister, the new wording of the Commission was not as stringent giving Malta the space to implement the measures it deemed fittest.

"Our policy was and remains that the retirement age doesn't increase," he said.

The Commission has however made clear reference to private pensions - something which the Maltese government intended to work upon and introduce schemes.

The government has argued that with the sustainability of pensions could be addressed with the increase in female participation, the Jobs+ programme and private pensions.

Muscat also said the EU had recognised the progress being made in energy while it encouraged the government for the Sicily link.