Prime Minister Robert Abela on Saturday outlined a proposal to introduce a national well-being index, placing it at the core of the Labour Party's vision for the 2026 election and arguing that future policy should be judged not only by economic growth but by how much it improves people's daily lives.

Addressing a press conference at Ta' Qali, Abela said that, for the first time, a Maltese political party would measure the impact of its electoral programme beyond financial indicators, focusing instead on the lived experience of individuals. He maintained that the full implementation of Labour's manifesto would lead to an improvement of more than 25 per cent in the well-being of people in Malta and Gozo, describing the figure as a reflection of tangible quality-of-life gains rather than a purely statistical target.

The proposed index would be built on ten dimensions covering key aspects of life: environmental sustainability, the quality of the local environment, health, personal well-being, housing, social protection, civic participation and rights, income and wealth, education and skills, and the quality of work. Each dimension would be measured through two indicators, giving a total of 20 metrics, with equal weighting applied across the board. In practice, this means every dimension would account for 10 per cent of the overall index, while each of the two indicators within it would contribute half of that share.

Abela explained that the environmental sustainability dimension would, for example, include measures related to air quality and the share of renewable energy, while personal well-being would incorporate factors like life satisfaction and free time. The quality of work dimension would assess issues such as gender equality and job satisfaction. The approach, he said, is intended to provide a more rounded picture of national progress and ensure that policy decisions are guided by their broader social impact.

The well-being index formed the backdrop to a series of policy proposals spanning health, employment, housing and the environment, which Abela presented as reinforcing the same objective of improving quality of life.

In the health sector, he announced a pilot project offering free mental health check-ups with a psychologist of one's choice, aimed at early intervention and wider access to care. He also confirmed plans for a new mental health hospital within the precincts of Mater Dei Hospital, a move intended to reduce the distinction between mental and physical health services. The project also enables the expansion of the existing emergency department.

Abela said the government would also continue expanding IVF services, noting that around 1,000 children had been born through assisted reproduction since previous legal changes, while acknowledging that some couples still needed to seek treatment abroad.

On social measures, the Prime Minister reiterated the already announced plans for more parental leave. Pensioners would receive an additional €50 per week, while support for first-time buyers would be increased by raising the eligibility ceiling on property purchases from €200,000 to €300,000.

In the labour sector, Abela said discussions would be opened on granting workers the right to request flexible working arrangements, including remote working, compressed weeks and flexitime, reflecting what he described as changing expectations in the workplace.

Environmental initiatives also featured prominently, with Abela pointing to ongoing projects to convert land into green spaces and public gardens. He said sites such as Manoel Island and White Rocks would be returned for public use rather than commercial development, while parks in Salini, Bengħajsa and Victoria in Gozo would be extended.

The Prime Minister also announced that the Heritage Malta passport scheme would be expanded to cover all citizens, allowing free access to museums and historical sites. The measure, he said, is intended to encourage greater engagement with Malta's cultural heritage and strengthen national identity.

Further proposals included the introduction of paid study leave for full-time workers, starting at two days annually and rising to a maximum of ten depending on the level of study, with the government compensating employers for the cost. The existing youth fitness scheme, which currently offers free gym membership for six months, would be widened to include other forms of physical activity in response to demand from young people engaged in alternative training regimes.

Abela framed the measures as part of a broader shift in governance, arguing that economic indicators alone no longer capture the realities faced by individuals and families. By embedding the well-being index into policymaking, he said, the government would be better equipped to track whether its initiatives are genuinely improving people's lives.