A week before the 2024 Budget is announced, Prime Minister Robert Abela met with key partners to discuss their proposals for next year's Budget, said the government in a statement.

Last Monday, meetings took place with Malta Employers Association, where the labour market was discussed.

During this consultation meeting, Abela said that the investment workers' skills will lead to the betterment of Malta's labour market.

The PM said that since over the last few years the labour policy focused on incentivising everyone to work, "we will strengthen the emphasis on incentivising training."

"We have already started to give clear signals. The reform in stipends, the technical trades centre at MCAST and the introduction of the iSkills Passport in the field of hospitality will all help more workers have the skills", he said.

Other government initiatives to continue strengthening the labour sector are the recent reforms on Y-Plates drivers together with the regularisation of the temping agencies.

Present for this meeting were Finance minister Clyde Caruana, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, Parliamentary secretary for social dialogue Andy Ellul and PL MP Naomi Cachia.