PL concerned at 7,521 jobless figure

The Malta Independent on line

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=98850

Labour Party deputy leader Anglu Farrugia, party spokesman for parliamentary affairs, said the National Office of Statistics is confirming the disquieting situation in the employment sector – the number of gainfully employed persons has gone down by 1,700 and the number of registered unemployed is now 7,521.

The Labour Party, he added, is concerned that the number of full-time employed persons has declined by more than 10 per cent, with the tourism sector registering the worst performance.

At the same time there has been an increase in the number of persons whose only income is from part-time work. With this situation staring him in the face, Lawrence Gonzi has again raised the energy tariffs and introduced a drainage tax, Dr Farrugia said.