Church Commission Criticises Budget Measures on Third-Country Nationals
In brief
- A Church commission has spoken out against new Budget measures that place heavier financial burdens on third-country nationals.
- The commission warned that the policy undermines human dignity, solidarity, and social cohesion across Maltese communities.
- Church representatives insisted that society cannot welcome individuals solely as workers while treating them as unwelcome community members.
A Church commission has raised sharp concerns over new Budget measures targeting third-country nationals, warning that the policy risks eroding core social values and basic human dignity.
The intervention came in response to fiscal and administrative provisions announced in the latest national budget, which introduce additional financial demands on workers arriving from outside the European Union.
According to the commission, imposing higher monetary hurdles on foreign workers contradicts the principles of solidarity and social justice. The body argued that government policy should not treat individuals purely as economic resources to be utilised when convenient.
The statement stressed that Malta cannot expect people to contribute to the local economy while simultaneously making them feel alienated from community life. Church representatives cautioned that such approaches weaken social cohesion and foster division.
The policy changes have sparked wider debate across the country regarding the role of foreign labour and the terms under which non-EU nationals live and work locally.
The commission called for a more humane and balanced approach, urging policymakers to consider the social and ethical consequences of decisions affecting vulnerable workers and their families.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Both outlets reported the Church commission's statement consistently, focusing on its critique of the new financial burdens placed on foreign workers.