The government's position regarding third country foreign workers is that they are only to be invited to work in Malta if their sector of work has genuine need for them, Prime Minister Robert Abela said as he delivered his speech in Parliament on Tuesday.
Abela remarked that the government "will be giving absolute priority to this subject", commenting that the question of foreign workers is definitively at the top of the government's list of priorities.
He said that the labour migration policy will be open for consultation, and added that the government is committed to making all the needed decisions in order to strengthen quality and control.
The Prime Minister said that he dislikes when the topic of foreign workers is discussed with an "element of populism". He continued that "if we are being realistic and honest with each other", it needs to be accepted that in every country growing economically, there is need for the participation of foreign workers so that the country can move forward and advance.
With that in mind, he said that when looking at the challenges faced by small and medium businesses, the primary challenge is that there is a lack of workers to help in operating and growing these businesses. He added that, however, there is a contrasting sentiment from the general public, who say that they want better control over the amount of foreign workers in the country. "Both perspectives have reason," he commented, "we need an emphasis on quality."
He said that investment needs to be made in technology and innovation, and emphasis needs to be placed on improving productivity through automation and employing workers of quality. He stated that companies which go in this direction will find the government supporting them.
"For the Nationalist Party, however, the solution for all this is to bring 32,000 workers to the country," the Prime Minister commented. He was referring to the PN's leaked pre-budget document, in which he said that it states that the PN would establish 32,000 new jobs, but that this would mean an influx of foreign workers due to the number of Maltese and Gozitans retiring compared to the amount entering employment each year. "That is what they are saying in their pre-budget document, which for some reason never saw the light of day."
Abela remarked that while the PN conducts press conferences to "talk against foreign workers" and say that they will be decreasing their numbers, they then go and plan to bring more in. "That is the hypocrisy of the PN."
'You don't know where you stand with the PN'
"With the PN, you do not know where you stand... They have completely lost credibility. People know where they stand with us, because we have always been clear with them. We go before the people and honestly and authentically explain the challenges in front of us."
The Prime Minister said that the government will be very strict with those who abuse workers, irrespective of nationality. He remarked that the PL will put an emphasis on the dignity of workers.
He stated that the government will not permit situations where employers believe it is better to employ foreigners in order to keep the wages of Maltese and Gozitan workers low. He also said it will no longer be permissible for certain businesses to have consistent turnover of foreign workers, and that emphasis will be placed on training and investing in the skills of workers.
On the matter of irregular migration, Abela said that it was the primary challenge being faced by the country five years ago when he first stepped into the role of Prime Minister. He said that irregular migration before the pandemic was at 3,500 in a year, and that in 2020 this number was decreased to nearly 1,500. He said that now, there have been only 150 irregular arrivals up to November.
As he spoke about investment in the country, the Prime Minister remarked that the government "got rid of the Nationalist Party's recipe for austerity". He said that the Labour government is reducing the pressure on the people and businesses year-on-year.
He said that he thanks investors who choose to invest in Malta for the faith they have in the country. Having said that, he continued that the next chapter now is having the privilege of being able to choose, meaning focusing on the quality of investment and what the people want. "Giving the people better quality of life, infrastructure, health services, direct investment, careers, tourism. This is why the country is now in a moment where it needs to evaluate the investment it needs to attract."
Abela said that as the country has overcome the challenge of unemployment, it can now choose between investors and ask them what value they offer to the country, such as skills and wages for workers. "Create jobs of quality, and we will be behind you to help you invest and grow."
Tourism and hospitality
Beginning to speak about tourism, the Prime Minister said that this same principle applies to the tourists coming to Malta. He commented that tourism is a very important economic sector, and that "we need to look at the value of the tourist".
He said that the emphasis in the coming year needs to be on the strength of the tourist, meaning how long they can stay in the country and how much they can spend. He added that the government wants to invest what the tourists leave back into the people.
Continuing on this matter, Abela said that in order to bring tourism of quality, there needs to be investment in hospitality. "We have an advantage because our country has much natural beauty and history, but this is not enough. Quality tourists want a beautiful and clean environment with a high level of service." He continued that four out of ten tourists who come to Malta choose not to stay in hotels, but instead choose other accommodation such as apartments, and so another step the government will be making is to evolve policies to address this reality.
He added that the skills of hospitality workers are also very important in this regard, both for tourists as well as locals. "We implemented a revolutionary measure, we had the courage to introduce the skills pass for all those working in hospitality... This reform immediately gave results... We raised the standards."
Abela said that by the end of the year, the government will be bringing forward a new policy which will encapsulate all that he has mentioned on this matter so that the tourism sector can continue being strengthened.
Pensions
Another topic that the Prime Minister discussed was tax cuts and pensions. He said that an important characteristic of the country's demographic is age, continuing that the reality for Malta, as it is in other countries, is that the population is increasing in age, though he added that this is relevant to Malta due to the country having among the lowest birthrates. With that in mind, he said that the government believes in the value of the family, which is why it increased the children's allowance for the second consecutive year.
Speaking on tax cuts, Abela remarked that the government has given the biggest tax cut in the country's history. He continued that this measure is strengthening the middle class and those who earn the least.
The Prime Minister commented that the PN's Finance Spokesperson had said that the tax cut would not affect anyone's life dramatically. Abela remarked that Bencini's sentiment is an example of the PN being insensitive. "Look at how little you have changed. Insensitive you were, and insensitive you remain."
Abela spoke about how the government gave €1 billion in energy subsidies, and said that the Opposition consistently spoke out against such subsidies, but affirmed that the government will continue to give them.
On the matter of the pension age, Abela said that the Opposition is "trying to create a sense of confusion, which comes naturally to it". He continued that the PN's statements that the government was raising the retirement age is a complete lie, and remarked that raising the retirement age is what the PN did in 2006.
"The retirement age is not being raised. Imagine someone enters work at the age of 23 or 24, this change will not affect them because we will be accrediting their social security contributions. The PN never raised the pension. You allowed pensions to freeze for years. That is your track record. Under this government, pensions have increased year-on-year, and it will continue happening as long as the people continue their faith in us... We are the party that loves pensioners."
Speaking again about the PN's pre-budget document, Abela remarked that while the PN "continues to break the law regarding the financing of parties", they then talk about good governance. He continued that the PN is not capable of giving the electoral commission its accounts and was also incapable of completing the pre-budget document. "The budget passed, and he says the document is still being developed."
Abela said that had the Opposition been in government, the pre-budget document could have been the country's budget for 2025. "This is not a joke," he commented.
Speaking about education, the Prime Minister said that the PL's investment in education is significantly higher than what the PN was investing while in government. He added that the collective agreement for educators means that they will be earning a wage which is more than double what they were earning under the PN.
He also spoke about Glenn Micallef, and said that he made the country proud after being approved as "the youngest Commissioner in the EU Commission". He continued that Micallef has been entrusted with an important portfolio, that of European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. Abela commented that he expected more hearty congratulations from the Opposition.
New collective agreement
The Prime Minister said that public service workers will be benefitting from a new collective agreement. He said that over 33,000 workers will be benefitting from a €1.27 billion package.
He criticised the PN's legal challenge to prevent PBS from broadcasting spots related to the budget, and said that the PN is hypocritical for doing so due to still broadcasting the spots on NET when they were paid €1,500 to do so.
Abela concluded by saying that the PL remains the only political force capable of bringing reforms and positive change in the country. "We want tomorrow to be better than today. We have never been scared of a challenge... The people want to move forward, not to wind back the clock."