Abela: Labour migration policy will protect rights, support ethical employers

The Labour Migration Policy set to come into force in two weeks will strengthen workers’ rights and help “ethical” employers, Robert Abela said.

The prime minister was speaking days after Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri announced that the first 12 measures of the policy will come into effect on August 1.

In a Sunday statement, Robert Abela said the policy is designed to foster a fairer, more stable employment landscape that benefits both businesses and workers alike.

He pointed to two measures as examples of that.

Firstly, employers who terminate foreign workers' employment without just cause will be banned from recruiting Third Country National replacements. Secondly, the government is doubling the fee for hiring new foreign workers to €600.

Abela made his remarks while visiting the PANINA outlet in Santa Venera. PANINA is an expanding business that hires both Maltese and foreign workers.

The Labour Migration Policy, first announced in October, comes as Malta saw a large influx of foreign workers following the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time, Home Affairs Minister Camilleri said the policy would “stabilise” Malta’s population growth and curb abuse.

Other measures set to begin in August will also ensure that TCN workers who have their employment terminated will have a longer grace period to find another job before they are asked to leave Malta.

Those who have a Maltese partner or are parents of Maltese children will also be exempt from applying for a single permit but will still need to have an employment licence