Malta's National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) has urged the government to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment before implementing proposed policy measures targeting third-country nationals (TCNs). The watchdog warned that several of the planned changes announ ced in the budget risk deepening existing inequalities and severely impacting vulnerable groups, particularly women and ethnic minorities facing intersecting social and economic disadvantages.

An Equality Impact Assessment uses research, consultation, and evaluation to analyze the economic, social, and cultural effects of policy decisions. Its primary objective is to identify and mitigate unintended negative consequences for individuals, communities, and the nation before policies come into effect.

While acknowledging that not all foreign workers are in precarious situations, the NCPE highlighted that TCNs represent a significant portion of Malta's lowest earners and most precarious labourers. The commission emphasised that low wages and insecure working conditions, when combined with potential discrimination based on gender, family obligations, or ethnicity, create significant vulnerability.

The NCPE cautioned that policies placing additional financial burdens directly on foreign workers-rather than on the employers benefiting from their labor-will hit the most vulnerable hardest.

For instance, withdrawing access to free childcare disproportionately harms women, who typically shoulder primary caregiving responsibilities. Furthermore, increasing permit fees for individuals seeking to change employers creates financial barriers for workers attempting to escape abusive, racist, or gender-biased workplace environments.

To avoid worsening current disparities, the NCPE called on the government to evaluate the proposed measures thoroughly prior to implementation, ensuring that future policies actively uphold social justice, economic competitiveness, and social cohesion.