Government on Friday provided the details of the 'complete and continuous' reform launched last year on Wage Regulation Orders, aimed to ensure that workers across various sectors of employment benefit from an improved quality of life.

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul detailed the reform during a press conference, where he said that for the first time in over seventy years, labour laws, or Wage Regulation Orders as they are better known, will undergo a full reform to ensure workers across various employment sectors benefit from an improved quality of life.

He said that now, over 60 labour laws will begin to be updated to reflect modern labour market realities.

Ellul explained that this reform would bring uniformity and improvements in the working conditions for several workers in sectors regulated by these laws, including hospitality, transport, electronics, craftsmanship, construction, and other industries.

He also announced the establishment of a Permanent Committee, saying that a permanent framework will be created so that implementation does not stop at immediate necessary changes, but continuously updating these laws to seriously support the quality of life for workers under these regulations.

Ellul emphasized that this commitment would be ongoing to ensure Malta becomes a quality country, with quality workers and top-notch working conditions.

He affirmed government's commitment to improving workers' quality of life to encourage hard work and reward dedication.

"This is why we established this Permanent Committee, which will be given all necessary resources to fulfil its functions in the best way possible. This is a bold step that has never been taken in our country's industrial law sector," Ellul said.

Ellul also explained that each recommendation will be discussed with social partners in the Employment Relations Board before any form of implementation, ensuring that every decision is made in agreement with social partners.

"The aim of this reform is to have fair laws for everyone, to reduce inequalities between sectors, and to create conditions that ensure dignity and respect for workers," Ellul said.

He explained that to safeguard the existing work conditions offered by these laws, the administrative arm of the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations will be strengthened, particularly in terms of enforcement.

Ellul spoke of the need for open and continuous dialogue with social partners, saying that through dialogue, changes can be made for the benefit of workers-changes that ensure improvements in quality of life.

A consultation process will also begin, involving both workers and employers.

"Social dialogue is a tool that can lead to concrete changes, as seen when laws regulating digital platform workers, temping agencies, and the signing of the strongest historic agreement -the National Minimum Wage increase - were introduced," Ellul said.

He said that this improvement demonstrates how much government believes in workers' rights and aspirations, and in a country which is as strong as its workers.