The Labour Party has outlined a series of social and economic measures at its first press conference of the election campaign, focusing on families, young people and pensioners.
Central to its proposals is a significant expansion of family-related leave.
Addressing the media, Prime Minister Robert Abela said maternity leave would increase to 26 weeks, while paternity leave would double to one month. A new six-month parental leave, fully paid by the government, would also be introduced, alongside additional leave in the first two years of a child's life.
Young people entering the workforce or launching a startup would benefit from a tax exemption on the first €30,000 of income for three years. This means that, overall, young people will retain up to a maximum of €12,300 extra in their pockets.
Housing proposals include a "My First Home" scheme, with government covering up to 25% of property value interest-free. The government will retain that share as a guarantee until eligible individuals are in a position, if they choose, to repay it without interest and become the sole owners of the property. As will be explained to first-time buyers, this will result in savings of thousands of euros in interest payments.
Through the scheme, all first-time buyers aged 23 and over will be eligible. For single individuals earning up to €40,000, the scheme applies to properties valued at up to €300,000. In the case of couples with a combined income of up to €60,000, the property value limit increases to €350,000.
Families who wish to grow and take the step toward acquiring a second property will also be supported. Families with more than one child who have this aspiration will benefit from the same incentives granted to first-time buyers related to stamp duty, as well as incentives tied to properties located in Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs), when they sell their current residence and purchase a larger one.
Another proposal is that the government will fully cover the cost of therapy required by children under the age of eighteen with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and physiotherapy. Parents of these children, who take them to therapy sessions or hospital appointments, will benefit from five days of paid carers' leave, which may also be taken in hourly increments.
Other measures include a €5,000 birth bonus and a guaranteed €50 weekly pension increase over five years.
The proposals are framed around the concept of improving quality of life, with a strong emphasis on giving families more time together and easing financial pressures at key stages of life. Government-financed parental leave is being presented as a way to support working parents without placing additional burdens on employers, while also addressing work-life balance concerns.
In the housing sector, the party is seeking to tackle affordability challenges by reducing upfront and long-term costs for first-time buyers, while also extending assistance to families looking to upgrade to a larger home. Additional incentives linked to property purchases, including reductions in stamp duty, are also being pledged.
The package also places weight on social inclusion, particularly through measures aimed at supporting children with disabilities and their families. Paid carers' leave and full funding for therapy services are intended to reduce both financial and logistical strain on parents.
For pensioners, the proposed increases are being positioned as part of a broader commitment to strengthen income security in retirement, with the party arguing that sustained economic growth will enable these investments over the coming years.