Updated 1300
‘Seven years later, justice remains elusive for Caruana Galizia’: US embassy
The US embassy marked the seventh anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, calling for full implementation of the recommendations from the public inquiry into her assassination. The embassy condemned the violent attempt to silence her anti-corruption investigations and urged continued efforts for justice. It reaffirmed the importance of a free press, denounced violence against dissent, and supported efforts to promote responsible journalism in Malta. Caruana Galizia’s 2017 car bomb assassination led to a public inquiry that blamed the Maltese state for failing to protect her. Meanwhile, European journalists gathered in Brussels to honor her and demand stronger protections for reporters. They called for justice and accountability, emphasising her legacy as a symbol of press freedom. (Times of Malta)
Women drive Maltese job growth as family measures reduce gender gap
Malta’s labour force participation for ages 15-64 grew from 74.1% in 2018 to 80.7% in 2023, with women driving most of the increase, contributing 9.7 percentage points. The highest activity rate was among the 25-54 age group, reaching 96%. Malta’s overall labor participation was 5.7 points higher than the EU-27 average, except for those aged 55-64. Female employment grew by 1.9% annually, narrowing the gender employment gap. Employment in services rose from 57% to 63.1%. Self-employment and part-time work rates were similar to EU-27 levels. Unemployment fell to 3.5%, and youth unemployment was below the EU average. Lifelong learning and tertiary education rates also saw significant increases, with Malta exceeding EU averages in both.
Minister Anton Refalo mulls extending funding to private farmers
Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo defended the government’s agricultural innovation hub, which has used a significant share of Malta’s EU agricultural funds. Responding to Nationalist Party criticism that private farmers are left with little, Refalo stressed the hub’s importance for the entire sector and pledged to find solutions for farmers who missed out on funding. He confirmed the government is exploring reallocating more EU funds to support them. The Nationalist Party suggested placing caps on public project funding and expanding the available funds. Refalo emphasised that the innovation hub, which received €4.6 million of EU funds, will support farmers and food producers by providing state-of-the-art facilities for experimentation and commercialisation, promoting sustainable innovation and a competitive market.
Morning Briefing
BCRS system is ‘laughable’, restaurant owners say
Restaurant owners are being forced to store hundreds of bottles for the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS), taking up space that would typically be used for fresh produce and supplies. This has placed a significant strain on the catering industry, with ACE secretary Matthew Pace calling the current system “laughable.” “Restaurants now have to store seven different types of waste,” he said, stressing the need for a complete overhaul of waste collection practices. “BCRS handles some types of waste, while WasteServ manages others, leaving restaurateurs sacrificing valuable storage space for waste separation”, he explained. (Times of Malta)
Just under 2000 domestic violence cases awaiting first hearing
As of 3 October, there were 1,927 domestic violence cases in Malta and 12 in Gozo awaiting their first court hearing, according to Justice Minister Jonathan Attard. He provided this information in response to a Parliamentary Question from PN MP Graziella Attard Previ. The minister also noted that the earliest available dates for first hearings in domestic violence cases are 9 January 2025 in Gozo and 13 February 2025 in Malta. (The Malta Independent)
PA to consult on revision of local plan on Villa Rosa site
The Planning Authority (PA) has launched a public consultation to change the local plan pertaining to the Villa Rosa site in St Julian’s. Among the objectives of the review, as stated by the authority, are to reconfigure the boundaries of the sub-zones within the Villa Rosa area and establish the allowable building heights for each sub-zone. The objectives state that the minimum area of public open space must exceed the current allocations in the local plan, as well as the zones where higher quality hotels shall be allowed.Last week, the Villa Rosa site made headlines after it emerged that Cabinet voted on a proposal to change the local plan. (Maltatoday)
