Government 'ignoring' labour market challenges - PN
Opposition criticises government's lack of serious economic policy, reliance on short-term fixes
Updated at 8.20am with PL reaction
The Nationalist Party has accused the government of "ignoring" crucial strategic challenges, citing the absence of proper planning for the labour market and population levels.
In a statement, the party said reports by the IMF, OECD, and global insurer Allianz all express similar concern about skill mismatches and demographic constraints.
Allianz highlighted in its country risk atlas how governance vulnerabilities persist in Malta.
The Allianz risk atlas, which assesses economic risks and opportunities across 83 countries, said corruption scandals, weak enforcement of planning laws and an opaque justice system have eroded institutional credibility.
According to the PN, instead of a serious and well-planned economic policy, we are seeing government patch-ups and piecemeal proposals that are not grounded in proper study, data or strategic planning.
"Temporary fixes that place even more pressure on the country," the PN said.
It said the government's economic strategy is built on "two dangerous pillars," low or no skilled work and unplanned importation of foreign workers, without even knowing how many are needed or what skills they possess.
The PN said government data itself shows that over 71,000 full-time workers earn less than €12,000 a year, while pressure on public services and infrastructure has continued to increase.
In contrast, the PN pledged to make an unprecedented investment in Maltese workers, not through empty promises but through concrete action.
"This includes the creation of a permanent, continuous labour market study system, comprehensive skills mapping of existing competencies and forward-looking forecasting of future skills and population levels, directly linked to emerging sectors and advanced technologies, also tailored to specific sectors.
"This will allow us to address current shortages, which will only worsen if action is not taken now," the PN said.
PN incorrectly interprets international reports- PL
In a statement reacting to PN's statement, the Labour Party said opposition spokespersons have shown a lack of understanding in interpreting international reports.
The PL said the opposition falsely claimed that the Country Risk Atlas published by Allianz raises concerns about the country's economic outlook.
"Pages 100 and 101 of the report indicate precisely the opposite of what the Nationalist Party asserts. Allianz categorises Malta as a "low risk" country for businesses and ranks it among the least risky destinations for investors globally," the PL statement reads.
The PL go on to say the Opposition also incorrectly statedthat the OECD is criticising Malta's skills policy, when the party says the report is actually encouraging other countries to observe and learn from Malta's approach in partnership with the organisation.