The Labour Party has approved its electoral manifesto, exactly 15 days before Malta goes to the polls on 26 March.

The approval came during a party General Council, and comes two weeks after the Nationalist Party released theirs – though the PL has kept its traditional timeline for its manifesto release when compared to previous electoral campaigns.

The PL’s manifesto, named after its electoral slogan Malta Flimkien, is split across 20 themes and has within it – as Prime Minister Robert Abela had already announced – 1,000 proposals, although a chunk of them are mentions of projects which are already ongoing or had already been announced.

The Malta Independent has taken a deep-dive into some of the key proposals which the PL have included in their manifesto.

 

Emphasis on existing sectors, pandemic recovery the centre of PL’s economic plan

The most sizeable theme in terms of the number of proposals in the manifesto concerns the economy.

Here, first and foremost, the PL is promising an economic growth equivalent to at least 5.5% of the country’s GDP each year, the reduction of the deficit which came about as a result of the Covid-19 by half in 2022, and the bringing of the country’s debt ratio to below 60%.

When it comes to economic sectors, the PL places a lot of emphasis on sectors which already exist, such as the life sciences industry, the medical cannabis industry, the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry, and more digital areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

Newer ideas include a focus on making Malta a centre of international arbitration, building up logistics services so that Malta can facilitate commerce between Europe and other continents, create a Blue Med Hub to attract blue economy start-ups, and work with the private sector to focus on digital connectivity sectors such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things.

When it comes to fiscal measures, the PL’s manifesto includes a raft of measures focused on attracting start-ups to the country, most of which have already been announced during the electoral campaign.

New residence schemes for third country nationals who are highly skilled or specialised in specific industries are mentioned in the manifest, as is a special visa for foreigners who want to open a start-up in the country.

In other measures, a PL government would increase the spending on Research and Innovation to 2% of the GDP, and would give tax credits to companies investing in green jobs which cover 75% of the salary of the person employed in the first year, 50% in the second year, and 25% in the third year.

A new ‘Genuine Indicator of Progress’ which takes into account social and environmental considerations will also be created to compliment the GDP when calculating the state of the country’s economy.

 

New mechanism to replace COLA one of PL’s promises

When it comes to social measures, the two most significant measures are a new mechanism to replace the lately much-maligned COLA mechanism and the creation of a national think-tank which is independent from the government and which brings together social partners, NGOs, and academics among others with the aim of coming up with various policies to improve the quality of life.

A whole raft of grants and benefits which are already in existence will increase, the PL pledge, while there will also be reforms when it comes to domestic cases such as separations, custody cases, and access and maintenance of children cases wherein courts will be tied to a fixed time to reach their decisions.

There are also measures which promote active ageing, such as a sheltered housing project for vulnerable elderly members of society, free internet for the elderly who are financially vulnerable, and psychological support for those elderly lose their partner.

Those who stop working in order to care for a parent will also receive four years of accredited pension contributions from the State, the PL pledged.

The party meanwhile has promised new elderly homes in Mosta and Msida, and extensive renovations in Cospicua, Zejtun, Floriana, Zammit Clapp, and others, while a directorate responsible for dementia will be set up.

 

PL promises right to disconnect, abolition of zero-hour contracts

When it comes to matters on the workplace, a Labour government would, according to the manifesto, introduce the right to disconnect for all workers, and would abolish zero-hour work contracts.

The PL has also proposed a scheme similar to the current Covid-19 Wage Supplement Scheme, where the government would cover the salaries of workers of companies which have been affected significantly by an international event with up to €800 per month.

There will be, according to the manifesto, new legal responsibilities when it comes to transparency on salaries, with job applicants now entitled to the legal right of knowing what the pay bracket of the job they are applying for is, while there is also going to be a legal obligation for workers to receive their salary in a bank account rather than in cash.

The PL also say that they are, in principle, in favour of introducing mandatory trade union membership for workers, and they say in their manifesto that they want to open discussions to this end.

Finally, the PL also pledge a new licensing system for those who employ workers on a temporary basis – a license which can be revoked altogether if a company is found in breach of employment regulations.

 

PL promises raft of planning reforms, ban on petrol and diesel vehicle importations by maximum 2034

The environment, becoming climate neutral, and infrastructure feature heavily across three dedicated themes in the manifesto.

The PL makes a host of environmental promises, with the main one being the spending of €700 million across seven years on open, green spaces. The party announced this promise, and where the projects would be in the first week of the campaign.

In its manifesto, the PL promises to speak to private owners of large gardens or open spaces, particularly in urban areas, with a view of acquiring them by buying them or by trading property for them and opening them up to the public.

An effort would also be made to identify where in the countryside public land is, with clearly marked trails and a mobile application indicating as such.

The PL is also promising to plant 100,000 trees in five years, to strengthen the ERA as a regulatory body, and guaranteed that Hondoq ir-Rummien would not be developed in any way, shape or form, but would be rehabilitated to offer a better open space to families.

From a planning perspective, the PL pledges that if ODZ land needs to be used for public projects such as schools or hospitals, a no-net-land policy will be followed which would thereby see land in the development zone be taken and transformed into open spaces for families.

Otherwise, the PL has promised tighter regulations concerning developments in ODZ, an update to the Strategic Plan for the Environment & Development (SPED), ensuring that UCA is defined irrevocably and can only be changed to expand rather than be reduced, the creation of a buffer zone around UCAs, a policy on building aesthetics which sets out clear standards for what a building should look like, and a skyline policy to create balance between high buildings and a locality’s identity.

The PL has also pledged that certain zones in Mizieb and L-Ahrax – which were controversially handed over to hunting lobbies in the past legislature – will be dedicated to picnics and camping for the whole year.

The PL has also reiterated its stance in favour of hunting and trapping.

On the energy sector, the PL has pledged to complete the second interconnector by 2025, and to work with the private sector to create offshore renewable energy projects such as floating wind and solar farms.

On infrastructure, the PL says it wants to focus on bringing about a cultural shift from cars to bicycles, public transport, and ferries.

Amongst the proposals included in this sector are a ban on the importation of petrol and diesel cars into Malta by, latest, 2034, and the opening of discussions for 16-year-olds to be able to ride a scooter with motors no larger than 125cc.

A call for new ferry routes operating in areas such as Cottonera, Marsaxlokk, Marsascala, St. Paul’s Bay, St. Julian’s, and Mellieha amongst others would also be launched.

 

Social housing complexes to be carbon neutral by 2030, PL pledges

On agriculture, labels to identify local agricultural and fisheries products will be done, while revisions will be made to laws on agricultural leases to guarantee that the land continues to be worked by farmers with respect to land owners and with rent reflecting today’s realities.

A carbon farming scheme which would see €8,000 be given to farmers with fields which are unworked or have low output so that the land can be transformed into agroforestry based around fruit trees has also made the cut into the manifesto.

The main proposal when it comes to housing, is the setting up of an emergency fund to help people who have become unemployed or have had to stop work due to a medical issue or to care for a dependent.  That fund will see the government pay for a year of the person’s home loan through an interest-free loan which then has to be paid back within five years.

The PL has also pledged to build another 500 units of social housing, and to make all social housing blocks carbon neutral by 2030.

On equality, the party is proposing providing free menstruation products at schools and reducing the VAT on them to the lowest rate allowed by the EU. The act of virginity testing will also be made illegal and restrictions on gay men donating blood will be removed.

On the health sector, the PL has promised that health centres would be built up to do minor operations which previously were only done at Mater Dei Hospital, while a new committee of experts will also be formed to keep the country prepared for future health emergencies.

 

Curriculum which promotes critical thinking amongst education promises

When it comes to the education sector, the PL would introduce LSEs in childcare centres, and a new curriculum in primary schools which encourages critical thinking, creativity, and gives more importance to sports, culture, and the arts.

On the point of sports, a PL government would increase physical education lessons to a point that that such lessons would happen every day, and it would also commit to a stipend increase for athletes who represent Malta at an international level.

A €20 million investment will be made to renovate 180 school science labs across the country, while air conditioners will be installed in every single classroom around Malta and Gozo as well.

A new Trades Institute will be built at MCAST, while Junior College and Higher Secondary School will get a raft of infrastructural improvements as well.

Educators will get a significant improvement in their salary, while stipends will also increase by 15% - two pledges which the PL has already made publicly since the start of the electoral campaign.

 

Malta to Gozo Tunnel included in PL manifesto

On Gozo, the PL has pledged a new centre of excellence dealing with big data to be set up on the island.

The Malta to Gozo tunnel will continue to be implemented, while a small airstrip which would not take up any agricultural land but would allow for small-scale tourism and activities such as skydiving will also be built.

The Mgarr ix-Xini valley will also be rehabilitated into a national park, including the restoration of the dilapidated pumping station in the heart of the valley.

The PL is also proposing elsewhere to have the traditional village feast included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Much is promised on tourism, with hospitality operators being promised a tax reduction equivalent to 30% of the expenses of a new investment or renovation to their accommodations and with regenerations to touristic areas such as Bugibba, Qawra, Xemxija, Valletta (Evans Building specifically), the Chalet area in Sliema, Paceville, and St. Julian’s all on the cards.

Ghadira Bay will also be expanded, while Fort Campbell will be restored to be an area for outdoor events.  Selmun Palace will also be restored, and the hotel next door to it will be regenerated with tourism in mind as well.

 

Artificial intelligence, procedural revamps considered to reduce court times

In other sections, the PL has promised a Thematic Ambassador focused on migration and on relocating migrants being appointed and has backed the controversial golden passport scheme as well.

Consideration will be given to using AI in court proceedings for the analysis of past sentences to reduce time for judgements, and to reform the compilation of evidence stage of cases in order to reduce criminal proceedings.

A new court for Gozo is also being promised, as is a full revision of procedures for the family court.

The PL is also promising a public consultation on the country’s electoral system, and the use of a similar gender mechanism to which will be used in these elections for the 2024 local council elections.