Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/424604
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 Opinion Evarist Bartolo 24 B etween March 2013 and June 2014 an increase of 8,508 gainfully occupied individuals was registered, supplemented by an increase of 5,354 persons who had taken up part-time employment. These figures are factual and borne out by statistics. The number of employees in the private sector has increased but there are certain interesting factors that give a clearer dimension to this figure. It was during this same period that Transport Malta took over the administration of public transport and it engaged a substantial number of workers to run the transport service. This was an extraordinary measure and although the number of workers employed for this specific purpose is listed as public service employees, the same individuals will be offered jobs with the private sector once the new service provider starts operating in Malta. In fact, once these workers, around 750 of them, commence work with the new company operating the public transport in Malta, the percentage of public sector employment as a total, will fall to 26.3 per cent. This is actually lower than the comparative percentage for March 2013, which stood at 26.7%. Effectively there was an increase in recurrent public sector jobs. This increase of 1,573 persons was made up of 514 in public sector administration, 517 in Health and Social Work, and another 387 individuals in Education. In my ministry alone, we have substantially increased the number of Learning Support Assistants; we have strengthened childcare facilities and we have introduced various other services to help young adults return to the workplace. We have invested in manpower to generate more jobs – and it is obvious that this has worked. Employment in the private sector has risen over the first 18 months of this government. Another interesting offshoot is the fact that we have increased the employment ratio of those persons between the ages of 20 and 64 to 65.7%. This figure is only four percentage points lower than the EU 28 average and we are aiming to fall within this threshold in as short a time as possible. The labour force of a country includes both the employed and the unemployed. We have also made inroads into the reduction of this figure. Whereas in October of 2013 the number of persons registering for work stood at 7,594, this figure has gone down to 6,596 as at October this year. This means that unemployment went down by 1,000 job seekers over a period of 12 months. The rate of unemployment in Malta stands at 5.8% ¬– which is the fourth lowest in the European Union. In Malta we have also achieved the same ranking when it comes to the unemployment rate among youths, at 12.2%. This Government has and will continue to work hard to attract investment, both local and foreign. Unlike the previous government, we believe in manufacturing and we are not ready to bet that 'all manufacturing industries (in Malta) will close down in 10 years'. Should we see any warning lights we will not cash in on any bet, but we will work hard to reverse the trend. Our economic plan is on track and this should lead to greater employment and lesser unemployment. We are well aware that employment is a powerful driving force of the economy of our country. My ministry is working hard on several other projects, including the Alternative Learning Programme. Besides providing education to those normally abandoned as early school leavers, we will train and provide these youngsters with skills that will help them obtain meaningful employment and reduce our unemployment figures even further. Evarist Bartolo is Minister of Education and Employment Opinion maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 Our economic plan is on track COURT NOTICE The Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals informs that the Civil Court, First Hall ordered the following sales by auction: Date and time Place Items 3 rd December 2014 10:30am - 22/2014 PP REO, TRIQ IL-MEJJILLA, HAL QORMI Aircondition machine of the make OK Clima Basic Plus, Air Compressures, Computer Texa Axone 2000, Trolley Jack, Two pressing machines, Drill, small Generator, Sand Blasting, Welding Sets and other items. 3 rd December 2014 12:00pm - 30/2014 PP SANTA KATERINA, LIMITS OF RABAT Truck of the make Titan yellow in colour, with the registration number ABG 836. Truck of the make Bedford yellow and grey in colour, with the registration number CAA 293. Van of the make Isuzu, grey in colour, with the registration number DAV 056. Leyland Truck yellow and grey in colour, with the registration number DAI 746. Leyland Concrete Mixer Truck yellow and grey in colour, with the registration number FBE 502. Leyland Concrete Mixer Truck yellow in colour, with the registration number FBN 093. Truck Iveco Pool Hole Borer grey in colour, with the registration number HBA 312. 10 th December, 2014 10:00am - 19/2014 EGL KALKARA MARINA, XATT IL- KALKARA, KALKARA Yacht named M/Y Unipride with white and blue hull and with the words written on the side Offshore 36 with Suzuki motor 6hp and a small dingy. 15 th December, 2014 11:00am - 23/2014 EGL 85, TRIQ L-IMDINA, HAL QORMI Vehicle of the make Peugeot of white colour with Registration number SIR 333. 15 th December, 2014 12:00pm - 33/2014 EM 20, TRIQ L-ISPTAR, H'ATTARD Vehicle of the make Peugeot Partner white in colour with the registration number KBA 908. Further details can be obtained from the website: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/JudicialSales/search.aspx The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card Rudolph Marmara For the Registrar Civil Courts and Tribunals We have invested in manpower to generate more jobs – and it is obvious that this has worked. Employment in the private sector has risen over the first 18 months of this government