Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that youth unemployment in Malta must be urgently addressed while pointing out that 60% of youths are unemployed in certain EU Member States.

He highlighted the importance of students getting job exposure but added that things shouldn't simply stop there. He said that during a meeting held with KSU representatives, it was highlighted that University students should get the same job exposure Mcast students got.

He was giving his introductory speech during the Active Labour Market Policy Counselling and Action Committee meeting held with social partners today at the education ministry in Floriana – the first meeting of the committee since it was set up.

Those present included top officials from the Gozo Business Chamber, GRTU, UHM, and GWU among others.

The committee, chaired by Clyde Caruana, had been launched by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat back in May following a signed declaration tied to the UHM’s ‘Jobs Plus’ programme.

ALMPs are government programmes that intervene in the labour markjet to help the unemployed find work. 

According to an OECD report released in July this year, Spain and Greece in particular has 60 per cent of its youths unemployed, both counties paying a bitter price as a result.

Unemployment rates are expected to rise above 11 per cent in France, up to 12.5 per cent in Italy and up to 28.2 per cent in Greece. Only Germany is doing well, with jobless rates expected to fall to below 5 per cent in the coming months. Only Germany is faring well with jobless youths.

Mr Caruana had been quoted as saying last month that Maltese people under the age of 25 are unemployed and out of education or training with half of these (around 2,500) being dependent on social services.

Mr Caruana said that the committee meeting would discuss projects that fall under the European Social Fund (ESF).

The Education and Employment Ministry will have €120 million in EU funds over seven years at its disposal.

Mr Bartolo meanwhile pointed out that the only EU Member State whose ministry tied education with jobs was Malta, joking that if he were to point fingers at the minister responsible for jobs during EU meetings for the rate of unemployment he would be laughed at since he is also responsible for employment.

He stressed that students should be provided with training at an early stage while also being given opportunities to get the real feel of a job before they enter the labour force.

Mr Bartolo emphasised that Malta can afford to witness more people entering the labour force, but this wasn’t the case, highlighting that the committee should discuss the issue, among others, to look at why this was happening while also emerging with conditions to create employment.