I have just listened with attention to a speech by Finance Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech where he stated that people are already feeling the effect of the economic growth resulting in higher wage increases.

But are we living on the same island, Mr Fenech?

May I just ask him to talk to the employees working in two major pillars of our new growing economy, the banking and ICT sectors?

Despite making huge profits, these companies have given minimal wage increases, if any, to their employees during the past few years.

I know of ICT engineers who have not received one lira in increments in their salary since Malta joined the EU.

And the reason is simple. Employees, including professional ones, are finding it hard to find better jobs in Malta, resulting in low job mobility. Thus companies can afford not to give any wage increase to their workers.

On the other hand, these workers are discovering much better job opportunities abroad and are faced with the tough decision of leaving their families to earn a good living away from our shores.

Christopher Sant

Mosta.