Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that foreign workers will be granted permits to work in Malta based on whether they are needed or not.

Abela was interviewed by MaltaDaily’s Editor Keane Cutajar in a PL activity in Marsaxlokk on Sunday night.

Asked about criticism and concerns on the increase in the country’s population, Abela said that he does not necessarily speak of an excess of foreign workers but more of sectors where the government needs to determine whether foreign workers are needed or not.

He said that there are certain sectors – such as health care, for example – which need foreign workers in order to strengthen the local workforce, and there are other “more modest” jobs which the Maltese do not want to do anymore as they have “evolved” in terms of the type of jobs that they want.

“This is the strategic exercise that is ongoing so that the granting of work permits is tied to the needs of the country,” Abela said.

He said that not everybody’s application will be accepted and that new regulations to enforce temping agencies so that they work within a framework are also being drafted.

“Workers will come to the country depending on where they are needed,” Abela said as he added that the government does not wish to bring over more workers than necessary as this can result in the salaries of Maltese workers stagnating.

Asked about the waste situation in the country and whether the PN’s proposals are viable, Abela said that the opposition’s ideas are built on their previous strategy of simply relying on landfilling.

He said that the PL’s strategy was different and therefore it required waste separation.  This waste separation permitted the reclaiming of former landfills such as Wied Fulija and il-Qortin and their rehabilitation as family parks.

Abela announced that the Sant’ Antnin Plant in Marsascala will also be closed down and turned into a family park, with a planning application to this end being filed some days ago.

On the latest scandal to have rocked the country, Abela was asked about comments by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi – who questioned how it had taken so long… from 2021 to the present day… to appoint a board of inquiry to look into the case.

Abela firstly described Gonzi as “the person who took this country backwards and not forwards” and who “broke the dignity of the Maltese worker.”

The Prime Minister reiterated much of what his office said in a statement earlier this morning, saying that is allegations that benefits were used to buy votes were true, then it would not have been his office which reported the matter to the police.

He said that the government did not want the internal administrative inquiry to interfere with the police’s investigations, and noted that the scandal was not left untouched as the police itself was investigating it while government departments were also seeking refunds of the benefits which were paid out.

Abela also referred to comments by European Parliament President and PN MEP Roberta Metsola, saying that she should look at the serious corruption allegations “under her nose” – allegations which Abela said Metsola had handled “cosmetically.”

Cutajar asked about comments on social media which were speaking out against the EuroPride event taking place

Firstly, Abela said that he was disappointed that nobody from the Nationalist Party took part in the opening ceremony of the event, noting that it may be representative of the fact that when the PN was in government they kicked civil rights to the side.

He praised the PL’s credentials when it came to civil rights, harking back to Mintoff’s time when he decriminalised sodomy and to more recent times when same sex marriage was legalised.

He questioned whether Maltese society has put aside any of its past prejudices, and said that he feels that a lot of progress has been made in this regard but there is still work to be done. 

When it comes to traffic, Abela said that full coordination between all entities will be needed now as school traffic comes closer to returning, and noted that the government had already done a lot, such as making public transport free, to incentivise alternative transport.

On the idea for a Metro, Abela said that geological and feasibility studies on this project are ongoing.

Abela was also asked about the mental health situation in the country, wherein he agreed that the necessary importance to this topic is not being given, and said that the government must aim to provide a peaceful style of life and the necessary services to help people face mental health issues.

On the Maltese language, he said that the Maltese need to be proud of the Maltese language and its identity and use it as much as possible.

He remained coy when asked about rumours of an impending Cabinet reshuffle, saying that it is a prerogative he will use when he deems fit.

On the upcoming Budget and the fight against inflation, Abela noted that a number of subsidies – such as on fuel and energy – will continue, as will a second Cost of Living Allowance to those who are most vulnerable.