Minister Clyde Caruana has "finally admitted" what the Nationalist has long been saying: today, an average of 19 young men and women are leaving Malta every single day. This is the clearest evidence yet of an economic model that has lost all vision for the next generation, the PN said Friday.
In the same year, nearly 18,000 young foreigners emigrated to Malta to fill the gaps in an economy built on cheap labour and exploitation. Malta has ended up relying on a model of "modern day slavery" rather than one of sustainable growth.
Over the past 12 years, the Labour Government has failed to attract even one new economic sector to our country, the PN said. Talented and ambitious young Maltese and Gozitans are becoming disheartened and leaving the land of their birth. In fact, in 2023, a record 7,000 young Maltese left the country to live abroad - the highest figure in the past five years. Multiple surveys show the driving factors behind this exodus: lack of study and career opportunities, environmental degradation, and soaring housing costs.
The PN said it wants a Malta where young people believe they can build their future through clear, forward-looking policies.
To this end, the PN has proposed a series of measures aimed at helping young people, including: reducing the burden of the cost of living; improving work-life balance, expanding parental leave, supporting young people to become homeowners, and protecting the environment through Constitutional safeguards.
The PN said it is committed to creating new and high-value economic sectors that provide quality jobs.
Unlike the Labour Government that has disheartened them, the PN said it wants to invest in young people, because we firmly believe that the future of our country depends on them.
PL replies
The Labour Party, in reply, criticized the Opposition for quoting figures related to foreign youths leaving the country rather than Maltese nationals, claiming this was done deliberately to distort the truth and cause undue concern about the nation's future.
Official statistics from the National Statistics Office (NSO) contradict the PN's narrative. In fact, according to the NSO, more young people aged between 15 and 29 have been returning to Malta than leaving in recent years. Moreover, the long-term trend in emigration has seen a significant decline. Whereas in 2012 around 2,300 Maltese citizens emigrated, that figure has dropped by nearly two-thirds in the most recent years.
The government accused the Opposition of engaging in a campaign of disinformation, pointing out that the real impact on the lives of young people is being delivered through tangible financial support measures. These include the €500 annual grant-up to a total of €1,500 over three years-for families with young people continuing their studies beyond the compulsory school age.
In addition to educational support, the government is also promoting home ownership among young people through various financial incentives. First-time buyers benefit from a €10,000 grant, stamp duty exemptions, and new schemes offering up to €9,000 over three years for investments in sustainable properties. In total, a young first-time buyer could receive up to €30,000 in benefits.
"These facts speak for themselves," the statement concluded, "and expose the PN's claims for what they are: an attempt to deceive rather than engage constructively on youth policy and the country's future."