The heads of two unions have hit back at the government broadcasting a budget-themed image on public sector devices earlier this week, calling the move politically motivated and unrelated to public sector jobs. 

The pink-to-turquoise lockscreen, which appeared on public sector devices the day after the government announced Budget 2025, was emblazoned with the slogan ‘A country of quality’ (“Pajjiż ta' Kwalita”).

The image also shows the public service logo and a QR code linking to a budget slogan-titled Facebook video showing interviewees discussing aspects of life in Malta they want to see improve, followed by a segment featuring Prime Minister Robert Abela.

In an apparent nod to the government’s recently launched document ‘Malta Vision 2050’, Abela suggests a revised economic model will achieve such aims.

“I’ve understood your thoughts, your priorities and your concerns. And since our country’s economy has progressed so greatly, now is the time to choose quality over quantity,” Abela says.

“I want to see our country move to one that prioritises quality as this is the only way to enjoy the best.”

'We weren't born yesterday'

UHM Voice of the Workers trade union CEO Josef Vella said the lockscreen represented an “imbalance in how power is exercised."

“I don’t think this is an apolitical message. This is another way of imposing your message... [and] an imbalance in social dialogue,” he said.

Stressing “no marketing agency has the power to reach 34,000 people at the touch of a button,” Vella noted the union was not able to communicate with its members through official channels, with emails sent to workers’ government email addresses undelivered or bounced back.

“But the government can communicate with its employees with a political message. We weren’t born yesterday,” he said.

The topical image was first flagged by teachers, who reached out to Times of Malta to report its appearance on screens earlier this week.

Malta Union of Teachers' president Marco Bonnici said the union disagreed with computers displaying “material unrelated to schools”, adding it had contacted the education ministry about the issue.

A public service spokesperson said such lockscreen images were normal, with images related to vaccination programmes, mental health, green initiatives and employee programmes, among other topics, circulated on public service devices every few days.

“We don’t find it contradictory; it’s an official government document and a budget for all the nation,” the spokesperson said. “It’s a true copy of the document presented in parliament.”

Stressing the image was “non-political”, he emphasised the public service was a “major participant” in forecasting and implementing budget measures, adding it had received no official complaints about the image.

Addressing teacher concerns, the spokesperson noted that as public sector workers, educators were “part of the government service” and “affected by the budget”.

He said the video linked to the QR code was the "official video" explaining this year's budget slogan and was shown on the Malta government website.

Examples of other lockscreens displayed on public service devices. Graphic: Public Service.

Graphic: Public Service.

Graphic: Public Service.

Graphic: Public Service.

The spokesperson said the lockscreen would be replaced by a new image by Monday, adding this was not the first budget announcement to prompt the appearance of such an image.

The lockscreen remains on public sector computer screens at the time of publication.

This week, residents also received leaflets by post-advertising budget measures, highlighting those affecting taxation, education, family allowances, and elderly care, among others.

Residents received budget leaflets by post this week.

Earlier this week, a court ordered PBS to halt a broadcasting political spot in connection with the budget after the PN claimed it was unconstitutional. 

The court presided by Judge Miriam Hayman directed the Broadcasting Authority to oversee PBS content and ensure it avoids broadcasting any partisan spots, in accordance with legal standards.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana announced a slew of measures for next year including widened tax bands and increases to the minimum wage and cost-of-living-allowance.

Reacting to the announcement, Opposition leader Bernard Grech accused the government of using the budget to boost Abela’s popularity following the June elections and subsequent opinion polls.