Chamber President calls for smaller, more skilled public sector
New Malta Chamber of Commerce president William Spiteri Bailey has called for a downsizing of the public sector and investment in upskilling its workers. Spiteri Bailey said the public sector is “enormous” and continues to draw talent away from private industry, creating labour shortages. While he welcomed the government’s labour migration policy as a positive step, he stressed it must be backed by a leaner public workforce to be truly effective. Spiteri Bailey said that there’s also the issue of lacking certain skill sets due to the size of the country, and so foreign personnel are needed in certain areas. He added that it also needs to be understood that Maltese nationals are no longer interested in taking up certain jobs, in part due to the standard of living having gone up. (The Malta Independent)
Labour widens lead in new survey
Labour has widened its lead over the Nationalist Party from 12,000 votes in February to 24,000, according to MaltaToday’s April survey. The PL now holds 51.6% support, ahead of the PN at 42.8%, while backing for third parties remains low and scattered. The shift is driven by lower abstention among PL voters and higher abstention among PN supporters. PL is also retaining more of its 2022 vote base (80.4%) compared to the PN (77.7%). Turnout is projected at 77.5%, up two points since February. Reflecting a growing feel-good factor in the country, the government’s satisfaction rating has risen to 3.1 out of 5, up from 2.9 in February. (Maltatoday)
Drug traffickers smuggling cannabis on false claims
Drug traffickers are deceiving people into smuggling cannabis into Malta by falsely claiming the drug is legal. Police Inspector Jonathan Pace explained that while adults can possess up to seven grams for personal use, trafficking remains a serious crime, punishable by up to 18 years in prison. The report also highlights how online platforms and encrypted apps have made drug trafficking easier, contributing to more drug seizures. Despite stronger enforcement, Malta’s growing population and rising demand for drugs—particularly cocaine—continue to pose challenges. (Times of Malta)
