The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises said that while business was good over the Christmas period, there was still a lot more to be done to ensure brisk trade all year round, and not just at certain times of the year.

In a statement, the GRTU said that there were many problems in the retailing sector, however, it seemed that the government had acquiesced to numerous requests to facilitate matters by reducing bureaucracy and other shackles that slow business down.

The GRTU said it expected more businesses to start up in 2007 as a result of new registration schemes. It also said it expected the number of employees in this sector to increase as a result of spouses being allowed to register as workers of family businesses.

The chamber reiterated its confidence in the government’s effort to boost trade, but said that it would be a mistake to look at everything through rose-tinted glass and assume that all is well.

It said that the National Statistics Office should not exaggerate by claiming that the number of employees in the retail, wholesale and repair garages had risen by 3,448. This is a fairytale that makes fools out of whoever came up with it, the GRTU said.

The chamber said that in 10 years, since 1996, the whole sector increased in employment by some 3,218 posts – an average of 322 workers per year. It cannot be, reasoned the GRTU, that in one year alone, the sector had swelled by some 3,448 jobs – which translates into 10 times the average gains in 10 years.

The GRTU said that it understood that the labour force survey is worked out on a sample, but said that figures should be scrutinised before being published so as to ensure people do not exaggerate.

The GRTU also said that it was sceptical about the increase in Gross Domestic Product, expenditure and increases in jobs. The GRTU concluded by saying that it was not trying to be negative and that progress is being made, but appealed for all to keep their feet on the ground and be credible in what they say.