Many see work as a necessary evil, the tool through which one brings in the money needed to raise a family. If they can have the money without the work, then they will gladly accept it with no questions asked.

Others however look at the hours they spend at the office, in a factory or wherever their job is as a means to fulfil their talents, and although one cannot really describe work as being an enjoyment, they do give their utmost and carry out their duties diligently and responsibly, sometimes with a smile too. They do their best to be efficient, fast and correct, and take pride in what they do.

Whatever the case, people need to work to make a living, and it is therefore up to them to make it as easy as possible for themselves. Grumbling about work and looking at your watch will not make the seconds tick faster. So perhaps it is better for all of us to be more positive about what we have to do, and accept it as a daily challenge, perhaps a daily test from which we have to pass every day.

Of course, the more attractive our work is, the better we will do it. And it is in this sense that the Federation of Industry recently insisted that work "should be made more attractive". What the federation meant is that if people "enjoy" what they do, they will do it better, and we all stand to gain.

Economic and social development hinges crucially on the activation of human resources, so it is important to invest in further training, life-long learning and similar measures which make work pay and make it more attractive. This, in a nutshell, was the message the federation wanted to put across in a document where it lists its recommendations on the pre-budget document published by the government.

Workers need incentives, and need good conditions, in order to perform to the best of their abilities. A worker who does not like what he or she is doing, or who is never praised or rewarded for his or her efforts, will give a lower output than a colleague who is happy on the job and whose work is appreciated, in words and in kind.

The more workers are encouraged to achieve more – and this through the right incentives – the more they will work harder for their own benefit, that of the company and, in the long run, will also be giving their contribution to the development of the country.

It has often been said that Malta's only assets are its human resources, and therefore the country cannot afford to have a workforce that is not up to standard. Thankfully, over the years Maltese workers have, generally speaking, always delivered. They have also shown themselves to be versatile and flexible, always ready to adapt to changing scenarios, and always ready to learn new skills.

Therefore, there has to be a heavier investment in human resources. This is already being done in the preparatory stages – that is in the way our young people are receiving their education, from primary to tertiary level. But "education" should not stop once people enter the world of work. They should be offered incentives to further their learning, and the government, which is the largest employer in Malta, and private employers should be the prime movers in this direction.

Employees should always be given the chance to improve, as this will be an incentive for them to move up the employment scale and obtain better salaries. In return, they will perform better.