The recent marginal 2.5 per cent annual salary increase inclusive of the Cost of Living Adjustment for Public Service employees, agreed between the government and the unions was publicly targeted by the employers’ representatives on various sections of the media. Similarly, employers’ representatives also targeted the marginal increase of COLA universal applied to the ‘employed’ workforce.

Perhaps employers’ representatives may have missed that Public Services salary increases and COLA are well below the national average wage increases as, according to the latest Salaries and Benefits Report for 2012/2013 released by Misco this week, “Salaries have risen by an average 4.5 per cent over the past 12 months as Malta’s growth recovery leaves its mark”.

Joe Morana

SLIEMA