Updated 1150
Gozo’s public sector employment weakens long-term growth: The Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) warns that Gozo’s growing number of public sector employees may harm long-term growth. A review of employment trends from 2013 to 2022 found public sector jobs attract workers due to their flexibility, appealing to those with part-time roles. NSO data shows part-time jobs in Gozo represent 19% of total employment, compared to Malta’s 11%. The GRDA suggests that public sector over-reliance could reduce productivity and crowd out private investment. A study showed that a 1,000-employee increase in the private sector would boost GDP more than a similar rise in the public sector. Local bodies like the Gozo Tourism Association urge the government to stop competing with the private sector for workers.(Maltatoday)
1,805 dwellings approved on greenfield sites in 2023: In 2023, 22% of newly approved dwellings in Malta were located on greenfield sites, a decrease from 25% in 2022. Greenfield sites are undeveloped plots within development zones. The Planning Authority approved 8,112 new dwellings in total, with 1,805 on greenfield sites and 6,307 on brownfield sites, which were previously developed. The percentage of greenfield approvals has steadily dropped from 36% in 2012, though the number of such dwellings has increased. In 2023, only 1,815 dwellings were conversions of existing structures, while 4,061 resulted from redevelopments. The number of Outside Development Zone (ODZ) dwellings fell to 86, the lowest since 2015. These statistics were published by the Planning Authority.
More companies are investing in the mental health of employees: Ahead of World Mental Health Day, Commissioner for Mental Health Dr. Denis Vella Baldacchino praised Farsons for its exemplary employee mental health practices. In collaboration with Caritas and the Richmond Foundation, Farsons offers anonymous mental health support to its staff. Dr. Baldacchino emphasised that investing in employee well-being reduces sick leave and boosts productivity. Farsons’ HR head, Tonio Mifsud Bonnici, highlighted the complexity of workplace stress, stressing the need for external support through multi-session programs. Representatives from Caritas and the Richmond Foundation noted the growing recognition of such initiatives and the importance of helping employees manage life stresses. This investment in employees, they argue, benefits society as a whole. (TVM)
Morning Briefing
Malta’s Commissioner-designate among the first to face EP grilling
Glenn Micallef is set to be one of the first nominees to the European Commission to face a parliamentary committee of MEPs on 4 November, ahead of a full vote in the plenary.His hearing will take place simultaneously with that of Slovakia’s Marus Sefkovic. Micallef, nominated as commissioner-designate for intergenerational solidarity, youth, culture, and sport, will answer questions during a three-hour session with MEPs from the lead Culture and Education committee, along with representatives from other committees on employment, social affairs, civil liberties, and legal affairs. PM Robert Abela had initially nominated former deputy prime minister Chris Fearne, but Fearne’s candidacy was withdrawn following legal charges related to the hospitals’ magisterial inquiry. (The Malta Independent)
Household budgetary survey launched
Households in Malta and Gozo will soon be asked to track their daily spending for the National Statistics Office’s Household Budgetary Survey. The survey’s results will revise the Retail Price Index, which influences the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). 7,000 households will receive letters inviting them to participate. Participation is mandatory, with a €50 token provided. After completing a questionnaire on income and large expenses, participants will keep a two-week diary recording their spending on items such as groceries, utilities, transport, health, and leisure activities. (Times of Malta)
Property: Deeds of sale increase in September
The number of final deeds of sale relating to residential property amounted to 1,007 during September 2024, an increase of 171 deeds when compared to those registered a year earlier, the NSO said. During September 2024, 1,046 promise of sale agreements relating to residential property were registered, an increase of 22 agreements over the same period last year. In relation to the amounts registered in September 2023, the final deeds of sale increased by 20.5 per cent, whereas promise of sale agreements increased by 2.1 per cent.
