Archbishop Charles Scicluna on Friday called for “urgent” measures to address the sharp increase in property prices and rent rates, saying this was part and parcel of ensuring social justice.

“In certain cases workers cannot plan ahead to start a family as they have no financial means to get a mortgage or pay a monthly rent rate of €750. This is an urgent issue,” he remarked.

Mgr Scicluna sounded this warning when addressing a conference organised by UHM Voice of the Workers to mark Workers’ Day.

In his address, the archbishop spoke of loyalty, justice, meritocracy, human virtues and values which he said were crucial to ensure human dignity both at work as well in society.

Mgr Scicluna remarked that loyalty did not mean taking an intransigent approach or rejecting any form of differing opinion. In this respect he expressed concern that social media was being used to destroy relationships rather than build bridges, by those who did not have freedom of expression at heart.

Pitching his address to the shop stewards and union officials present, he called for more flexibility in collective bargaining: “Always leave the door ajar in every negotiation,” he said.

Mgr Scicluna also made a rallying call not to allow economic values as the sole driver of society. Such a course of action did not bode well for the respect to human dignity, he remarked.

“God forbid if economic values were to become the only yardstick of progress,” he said.

The archbishop also said human virtues should be embraced by all, like the ability to control greed, the courage to defend what was right in the face of adversity, as well as prudence.

Mgr Scicluna also dwelled on the fundamental value of justice which he said must go hand in hand with meritocracy. He said that a society whereby career opportunities hinge on one’s beliefs and associations, or on the “us and them” rhetoric, was not line with this principle.

“If we strip off meritocracy we will be going against justice. Justice also means accountability,” he warned.