Opposition MP Karl Chirchop said yesterday that while he deplored any form of abuse of social benefits, the government was still duty bound to ensure that all requests for assistance were treated seriously.

Dr Chircop said it was a positive move by the government to amend the law that regulated the boarding-out process. However, he said, this had to be complemented by a drive to generate employment in Malta as recent statistics showed that unemployment stood at 12,000, which he said is an alarming figure.

He said that some of these were over a certain age threshold, which also contributes to even increasing requests for invalidity pensions. He said that another factor that contributed towards unemployment was early retirement schemes that the government itself put into effect, such as those at the drydocks.

He said that in general, the MLP was not against such schemes, but they had to be well-thought out so as not to create brain drain or abuse of the system.

He said that abuse of social benefits needed to be cut out by the introduction of new or altered regulations, but that the government needed to set a good example and lead the Maltese workforce towards success and not ruin.