2022 is set to be an eventful year in Malta, with a general election set to be held, a number of high-profile court cases set to continue, and the challenges brought about by Covid-19 needing to be tackled.
The Malta Independent contacted NGOs, civil society groups, unions and the Chamber of Commerce to see what their hopes for 2022 are and what they would like to see changed and introduced in terms of policies and legislation.
The answers naturally varied depending on the sector they are involved in.
The Malta Chamber of Commerce for instance, wants to see the country get off the FATF’s grey list by the end of the year, and also to see a resolution to the hospitals privatisation saga.
Civil society group Repubblika, aside from wanting justice to be served on Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murderers, wants an earnest discussion on reforming Malta’s constitution with the active participation of civil society. Pressure group #OccupyJustice said that their wish for 2022 is for the aggressive pursuit of the truth to ensure the successful prosecution of all those involved in Caruana Galizia’s assassination.
NGO Moviment Graffitti, among other things, wants a decisive change in direction with regards to construction, development, and planning policy, which would be rooted in the common good, not business interests. Its main concern is that the government “will continue pushing an unsustainable economic model for the profits of the few.” Similarly, Din L-Art Helwa hopes for a fundamental change in the way the Planning Authority acts.
One of Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar’s priorities would be for the speedy implementation of a holistic public transport plan, incorporating non-polluting modes of land transport that can be introduced within the next few years.
The General Workers’ Union meanwhile, highlighted the need for new legislation for remote working and the ‘right to disconnect’.
The above groups and organisations set out their wishes and hopes for the year in more detail, but most seem to have one thing in common - that they want more just practices introduced. The GWU, for instance, wants more enforcement and harsher penalties for all those who abuse employees or breach the law, and the Malta Chamber of Commerce wants the grey listing of public procurement bidders who have significant tax arrears and/or irregularities in employment practices.
Malta Chamber of Commerce
The Malta Chamber of Commerce wants to see the country get off the FATF grey list by the end of 2022 and also wants to see a resolution to the hospitals privatisation saga.
The Chamber’s President, Marisa Xuereb, said that it also wants the conclusion of a number of high-profile magisterial inquiries and judicial cases that will enable the country to move on.
With an election set to take place this year, the Malta Chamber wants an immediate freeze on all public sector employment (except for healthcare and education) until the next government is installed.
It hopes for a post-election government driven by a lean and strong Cabinet that is efficiently streamlined, well-aligned and focused on the national interest.
It also wants a real reform of public procurement, including advanced publication of procurement outlooks, limitation of direct orders and full transparency on their justification, full transparency on post-award variations, and the grey listing of bidders who have significant tax arrears and/or irregularities in employment practices.
In 2022 it wants to see greater efficiency, consistency and transparency in processes related to businesses by government entities such as Identity Malta, the Malta Business Registry and the Inland Revenue Department.
The Malta Chamber also has a few environmental and planning related hopes. It wants to see the publication of the new Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development and a commitment by both political parties to revise 2006 local plans accordingly. In addition, it wants to see a financially and environmentally sustainable plan for energy generation, procurement and supply.
The Chamber also wants a national airline that business can count on for connectivity in future.
Repubblika
President of the civil society group Repubblika Robert Aquilina said that it has five ambitions for 2022.
“Firstly, we want to see justice served on the killers of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Secondly, we want a serious debate and a national effort to adopt the recommendations of the Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry.”
Thirdly, he said, “we want an earnest discussion on reforming Malta’s constitution with the active participation of civil society, prioritising a deep and democratic reform of Parliament.”
“Fourthly, we want to see the prosecution of cases of corruption starting with scandals that have been on the national agenda since the Panama Papers in 2016 and on which nothing yet has been done. Fifthly, we would like to see general elections conducted democratically, free of the intrusive influence of secret big business funding, free from deceitful propaganda on party-controlled TV stations, and free from mindless flag-waving, that sends a clear message from voters to people of power that corruption and bad governance will no longer be tolerated. We doubt that at the end of 2022 any of these boxes will be ticked, but we exist to keep trying. And we will.”
#OccupyJustice
Pressure group #OccupyJustice said that their wish for 2022 is the same as it has been since October 16, 2017: “the aggressive pursuit of the truth to ensure the successful prosecution of all those involved in Daphne's assassination and the immense corruption that led to it.”
“The problems in this country do not stem from a lack of laws; they stem from state capture by a criminal network, cowardly and/or complicit institutions, and a complete failure to enforce the laws we already have.”
“If the government is incapable, or unwilling, to secure justice for one of Malta’s most prominent daughters despite who has been implicated in her violent murder, how can it possibly be trusted to steer the entire country through the looming existential threat of the climate crisis and its devastating social, political, and economic effects?”
“Step one: Justice for Daphne and her work. Step two: Everything else.”
Moviment Graffitti
NGO Moviment Graffitti’s main concern for 2022 is that the government “will continue pushing an unsustainable economic model for the profits of the few. We recognise civil rights advances like the positive cannabis reform, but outdated policies of economic-growth-at-all-costs lead to worker exploitation, unaffordable properties, widening inequalities and a diminishing quality of life.”
It proposed a number of changes it wants seen. The NGO wants a decisive change in direction with regards to construction, development, and planning policy. “Planning policies must root in the common good, not business interests. The environment and planning authorities should be rebuilt from scratch on principles of independence, transparency and democracy.”
The NGO said that Malta has a food security crisis “due to road-widening, construction and imminent threats of farmer evictions from land worked for generations.” It said that the government needs urgent action on the preservation of agricultural land via planning policy reform and the updating of laws to protect farmers against eviction.”
Graffitti said that renewable energy alternatives, like offshore wind energy, and reducing consumption must be at the forefront of Malta’s energy policy, and it should not be based on “further astronomic investment in fossil fuel production profiting the business and political class at the detriment of the climate crisis to be borne by our children.”
The NGO also wants an equitable distribution of wealth and workers’ rights. “Widespread workers’ exploitation faced, for example, by platform workers, is to be addressed via updated laws and enforcement. We insist on a raise in the minimum wage and increased tax rates on high income and profit.”
Graffitti wants reforms and training “addressing institutional racism and the brutal treatment of migrants, particularly in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Identity Malta.”
Lastly, it wants to see the “misogynistic reproductive injustice rectified through laws which allow access to reproductive health care services for women.”
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) said that in 2022, it would like to see the Ministry for the Environment and hence, the Planning Authority, put communities’ quality of life first, before individual interests.
“Even before the introduction of improved regulations, FAA and Malta’s residents have a right to expect that existing regulations are respected, not ignored by the PA’s planning boards, as so often happens. Furthermore, the almost total lack of enforcement has added to the anarchy caused by construction in our towns and villages.”
Another priority is the speedy implementation of a holistic public transport plan, incorporating non-polluting modes of land transport that can be introduced within the next few years, FAA said, “unlike an underground system which will take much longer to be operational.”
“The combination of respect for regulations, strong enforcement, non-polluting public transport and protection of trees would go a long way to reducing the air, dust, visual and noise pollution that residents presently suffer from.”
Public spaces, along with roads and pavements should remain public and not be privatised at the expense of Malta’s citizens, the NGO said.
It also said that Malta’s natural and built heritage environment and resources need to be protected as stipulated in our Constitution, “which must be made enforceable in Courts of law, as it is presently toothless. The Planning Authority must meet its obligations as a regulator, as no one is above this law, not even the strongest developer.”
“Ultimately all of this rests with the Planning Authority, the Environment and Resource Authority and the Ministry that directs them.” FAA called for people of known integrity to be appointed to these boards to ensure that the health and quality of life of Malta’s residents is protected along with its urban and rural heritage.
Din L-Art Helwa
President of Din L-Art Helwa Alex Torpiano said that recent years have been devastating in terms of built and natural heritage preservation, particularly in Gozo.
“It is now universally acknowledged that what has happened, and continues to happen, to Malta and Gozo has led to a net loss of quality of life and of the environment. We hope that this leads to a fundamental change in the way the Planning Authority acts, in the way the PA officers perceive their role, and in the way politicians expect the Authority to operate.”
“The construction industry can no longer be perceived as the key, or even the only investment tool on the islands for economic growth. We must move away from the perception that there are any ‘development rights’ that cannot be taken away from developers. We hope that the commissions/tribunals will place aesthetics at the top of the assessment criteria for project proposals, that the practice of adding three or more floors on Grade 2 scheduled buildings will be stopped, and that the scheduling of landscapes, streetscapes, and strategic views will be embarked upon."
General Workers' Union
General Workers' Union Secretary General Josef Bugeja said that after two years of uncertainty brought by Covid-19, their major concern is either that the pandemic remain at the same level or it gets worse.
“The economy has picked up well and the forecast is good for 2022. Of course, things can change dramatically in a split of second. A case in point is the Omicron variant. The disruption in the supply chains and raw materials is a major concern for all working organisations. Apart from the disruption, the prices are another major concern. Furthermore, the aviation and hospitality sectors are still fragile. Since the announcement of the Omicron variant, we have seen a spike in cancellations. Our hope is that the pandemic becomes something of the past and we get to the same level of industrial productivity of 2019.”
“Collective bargaining remains at a very high level in every workplace and during the crises we continued not just to attract new members, but we started attracting more professional members – like nurses, professional gaming staff, and the newly recruited film producers, actors, authors, directors, broadcasting, and theatrical staff. We are also very satisfied that after years of consultation and discussion, the use of cannabis is decriminalised. Also, during the past year we enhanced our collaboration with NGOs helping with migrants and other vulnerable persons. We hope we can continue to grow our presence and collaboration.”
As for what the union would like to see changed or introduced in terms of legislation or policy, he said: “The world of work is changing very fast, and we need to act faster. We need various new pieces of legislation to cover the new forms of work. First and foremost, we need to update the main legislation which was enacted in 2002. Secondly, we need to update the Work Regulation Orders. We will continue to lobby both political parties for the introduction of mandatory membership in a trade union of your choice. We already discussed draft proposals. We also need a more robust teleworking legislation to safeguard and protect workers working from home.”
“We need the introduction of new legislation for remote working and the ‘right to disconnect’. We are also aiming to have new legislation to cover platform workers. These are the new modern slaves. Persons without any employment status, protection or conditions.”
Hopefully, he said, discussions would be finalised on the new mechanism that works independently of COLA, to protect the most vulnerable in our society. “Next year we would also see the enactment of the legal notices on the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions and the Work Life Balance Directive. On another note, internally we started discussing the concept of mental health first-aiders in every workplace. We believe that in very workplace, together with the normal first aiders, health and safety officers, there should be a mental health first aider as well.”
In addition, the union wants more enforcement and harsher penalties for all those who abuse employees or breach the law.