Government fighting unemployment by increasing public workers – PN

Official statistics have confirmed that government was addressing the issue of unemployment by engaging more people with the public service, Nationalist MP and deputy leader Mario de Marco said.

According to data issued by the National Statistics Office, the number of individuals seeking employment rose by a further 541 persons, marking an 8% increase. Almost 30% of workers recently employed have been engaged by the state, de Marco said.

By November 2013, a total of 42,345 persons were working with the government, compared to the average of 40,893 employed by the state during 2012.

At the same time, between January 2013 and the first week of March, a total of 519 people were employed within the civil service. This means that at least eight persons were employed on a daily basis.

Reacting to this month’s statistics, de Marco said it was evident that the country’s economy was not creating enough activity to meet the demand of persons seeking employment.

“These statistics confirm the government’s lack of vision in creating employment: its first year was marked by lack of incentives in favour of the industry, SMEs and sole traders,” de Marco said.

“It is worrying that the government has not yet submitted its plans on how to make use of over a billion euro in EU funds, approved over a year ago.”

De Marco said hiding the unemployment problem by absorbing more workers in the public service was “a failed recipe” which created enormous problems in neighbouring countries.

The Nationalist MP said government could not ignore the 8,000 families who were after a better quality of living.