The Minister for Justice and Construction Sector Reform, Jonathan Attard, presided over the signing of the first collective agreement for the administrative grades within the Office of the State Advocate – an important step that reflects the Government’s commitment to a public service that safeguards workers’ interests, the Justice Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Minister Attard emphasised that this important step is taking place during the 2026 Budget period, in which a record amount of funds has been allocated to the justice sector, with a 26% increase in financial allocation for the Office of the State Advocate compared to this year. “The new collective agreement we are signing today gives these workers the respect, value, and recognition they deserve,” Minister Attard stated.

The Minister went on to underline the importance of this office, not only in the context of justice but also in the context of the national interest. He also noted how this office has seen a substantial increase in human resources, going from 23 employees in 2019 to more than double that number today.

Attard also spoke about the unprecedented investment in justice infrastructure. Among recently completed projects are the new courthouse for Inquiring Magistrates, a new jury courtroom (Courtroom 29), and the allocation of a building that will serve as the seat of the Commercial Court. Meanwhile, the agreement for the construction of a new and modern Court in Rabat, Gozo, has also been signed, he said.

The Office of the State Advocate is also being strengthened through the acquisition of a new building adjacent to the existing offices, which will provide more space and further elevate the prestige of the office. At the same time, the TSI project on internal reorganisation has been completed, leading to the introduction of new codes of ethics and a strengthening of internal regulations. The next step will be the implementation of a new Case Management System and enhancements to the Legislation.mt system, which will serve as the official basis for all of Malta’s laws. Discussions related to the collective agreement for legal grades are also ongoing.

“All of this is clear proof of our commitment to building a strong, modern, and respected public administration – one where employees are given the value they deserve and where our institutions operate with integrity, professionalism, and efficiency,” Minister Attard concluded.

For his part, the State Advocate, Chris Soler, said that the signing marks an important moment for the administrative core of the Office, which is covered by this collective agreement and which will further strengthen and build upon what has already been achieved. “We look forward to continuing our work and fulfilling our duties within our Office following this agreement,” Soler added.

The Secretary for the Government, Public Entities, and Health Section within the General Workers' Union, Kendrick Bondin, said that this is the first agreement of its kind, aimed at strengthening employee benefits by achieving a balance between duties and rights.

“We have not only strengthened the financial aspect but also how workers progress, as well as other working conditions, in order to reflect today’s realities,” Bondin added, while thanking everyone involved in the discussions—especially the two GWU representatives, Christine Caruana and Joan Nwaokoro, who worked diligently in the most professional and humble manner.

Among those present for the signing were the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Justice and Construction Sector Reform, Johan Galea; the Assistant Secretary of the same GWU section, Lawrence Bugeja; the Deputy Head of the Industrial Relations Section, Mario Grixti; and employees from the Office of the State Advocate.