Longer parental leave and increased child support among Caritas budget proposals

Longer parental leave and increased child support payments for families with newborns, new shelters for people at risk of arrest under ‘vagrancy’ laws and targeted benefit payments to promote a healthier diet are among pre-budget proposals from Caritas Malta.

The social welfare organisation would also like to see young people subject to a correctional care order placed in a “secure unit” instead of “prison-type” facilities, and greater access to community gardening and farmers' markets.

Food waste should be better managed to divert surplus food to families in need, while dependence on cars should be reduced, the charity said.

The organisation would also like to see a social impact assessment undertaken to assess the feasibility of building smaller housing units to better meet demand, continued investment in infrastructure and enforcement of tourist accommodation standards.

A strengthened consumer affairs authority, enhanced protections for foreign workers and incentives for socially responsible businesses were also among the organisation’s suggestions.

In a statement Friday, Caritas outlined budget proposals covering social services, infrastructure, employment, consumer affairs and tourism.

The government will present its 2026 Budget on October 27, with Prime Minister Robert Abela having hinted at measures towards lower taxes, bigger benefits, more investment for business and families and stable bills.

Cartias' measures were proposed against a backdrop of what the charity described as "materialistic, consumerist and individualist mindsets”, parents with less time for their children, population growth, widening inequality, exploitation of foreign workers, environmental pressures and mental health problems.

“Against this background, and in the context of a multicultural society with a larger population, it is essential to look at how, as a country, we can adapt to this relatively new reality and strengthen the foundations of our society”, the organisation said.

“Policy that aims to achieve this goal must necessarily adapt better to a larger population while strengthening the family, the community and the natural environment, and reducing the gap between rich and poor.”

Families

Caritas would like to see parental leave extended for partners and child support payments increased, citing a study estimating that newborns cost families up to more than €8,200 per year.

Social services

The charity stressed it was “not enough to enforce an old law that prohibits a ‘vagrant’ lifestyle” by arresting those with mental health or drug dependency issues who are unsuitable for rehabilitation programmes or mental health care facilities.

“A specialised ‘low‑threshold’ service should be developed, staffed by trained personnel, including a place to sleep and stabilise. Caritas Malta remains open to providing whatever assistance is needed to develop this service,” it said.

Earlier this year, thirteen homeless individuals were each sentenced to two months in detention after pleading guilty to living an idle and vagrant life as well as begging.

Caritas also pointed to a “gap” in social services provided to young people with “severe and dangerous behavioural problems”, highlighting the need for a ‘secure unit’ as opposed to detention-like facilities for such individuals.

Nutrition

The charity noted that it had “long suggested that part of social benefits be issued in the form of digital funds for vulnerable families, which can be used to purchase a basket of basic and nutritious products”.

It stressed the need for those on low incomes to be given access to healthy food, promoting community gardening and increased accessibility to farmers' markets, including facilities for the elderly and those with mobility challenges.

The Malta Food Agency’s ‘Żomm Tarmix’ campaign should be strengthened and a centre established to distribute surplus food at risk of being thrown away to families in need, it said.

Meanwhile, food vouchers for locally grown fruit and vegetables should be provided, the charity said.

Infrastructure and the environment

“Given population growth, investment in public infrastructure remains a priority so that it keeps pace with this increase,” Caritas said. “It is essential to find solutions to reduce car dependence due to congestion and health impacts”.

It called for the enforcement of “accommodation standards” to avoid “precarious” situations in tourism accommodation.

Employment

The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA), Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and other relevant authorities should be strengthened “to combat abuses and the mentality that ‘anything goes’”.

Services that support integration for foreign workers should be strengthened, and work permits should be facilitated to better protect such workers from abuse, Caritas said.

Meanwhile, incentives should be provided to businesses with ISO 26000 Certification – an international standard measuring social responsibility practices – that adopt a social‑economic model based on the primacy of the person, not just profit”, it said.

“Caritas Malta believes the budget should be an instrument to promote social justice, sustainability and good governance. The proposals presented in this document comprise 15 measures pointing toward a Malta that is ever more just, inclusive and healthy for all.”

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana will field questions from Times of Malta editor-in-chief Herman Grech at a pre-Budget event on October 21.