Social Organisations Condemn Budget Measures Targeting Non-EU Workers
In brief
- A coalition of social and cultural organisations has branded Budget 2027 measures affecting third-country nationals as socially unjust.
- The groups warned that new fees and restrictions will push vulnerable workers, women, and children further to the margins of society.
- Civil society representatives called on the government to reconsider policies that they argue exacerbate poverty among foreign workers.
A broad coalition of civil society organisations has issued a strong rebuke of Budget 2027, describing newly announced policies affecting third-country nationals as anti-worker and socially unjust.
The joint appeal was backed by around two dozen social and cultural entities, including the Malta Women's Lobby, the Maltese Association of Social Workers, and the Malta Co-operative Federation. Reports varied slightly on the exact headcount, citing 24 and 25 participating groups respectively.
In their joint statement, the organisations argued that non-EU workers are already among the segments of the population most exposed to poverty, exploitation, and precarious working conditions in Malta.
The coalition cautioned that imposing additional fees and tightening administrative requirements would worsen financial hardship for low-income migrant households, driving women and children further into marginalisation.
The signatories rejected the government's approach of introducing financial burdens directly targeting foreign nationals, arguing that such measures divide the workforce and undermine basic social solidarity.
Urging the administration to rethink its fiscal decisions, the groups appealed for comprehensive social impact assessments and policies that safeguard human dignity rather than penalising essential workers.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Coverage between outlets was consistent, reporting the coalition's joint statement and its criticisms of the budget measures without notable divergence.