Updated 1030
Youth arrested on suspicion of placing homemade bomb outside Labour HQ
A 19-year-old man was arrested overnight on suspicion of placing a homemade bomb outside the Labour Party’s headquarters on Thursday. The explosive device was discovered in a waste bin outside the building. Police reportedly tracked down the teenager at a garage in Ħamrun, where he had been residing. Police later clarified that the suspect was apprehended at a location on Triq Guze Pace in Sta Venera. Explosive material was found in the garage, prompting the evacuation of residents in the apartment block above as a precaution. The material discovered is known as TATP, a volatile explosive also referred to as ‘mother of Satan’. It is frequently used in terrorist attacks due to its potency and the ease with which it can be made from household supplies. (Maltatoday)
Educators to receive increase in allowances, salaries unchanged
Teachers will not receive an increase in their basic pay, remaining on the same pay scale, but will see income growth through improved allowances. Details of the new collective agreement were presented to educators by the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) on Thursday evening. The agreement, reached after prolonged negotiations, does not raise basic pay but increases allowances. Teachers will receive a Class Allowance with each payslip and a Work Resources Allowance every three months. These allowances are set to double in the short term and more than triple by 2027, when the agreement will be renegotiated. The basic pay for Kindergarten Educators (KGEs), Learning Support Educators (LSEs), and Supply Teachers will improve, and so will their allowances. The collective agreement will need to be approved by MUT members. (The Malta Independent)
1,695 business have irregularly employed TCNs
A quarter of businesses employing non-EU workers irregularly last year were from the hospitality sector, according to government figures. Out of the 1,695 employers found to have irregularly employed third country nationals (TCNs), 436 were involved in accommodation and food services, according to the Home Affairs Ministry. This represents 26% of the total, making the hospitality sector the most represented among the 20 listed. The next most represented sectors were wholesale and retail trade, including vehicle and motorcycle repair (267 employers), administration (179), and construction (168). (Times of Malta)
Morning Briefing
Baxter announces major expansion, job creation
Manufacturing firm Baxter will invest €60 million and create 180 new jobs, in addition to the 700 employees it already has. This announcement was made during Prime Minister Robert Abela’s visit to the company’s factory in Marsa. The new jobs will span manufacturing, engineering, and research and development. To support this investment, three factories will be relocated, and the current plant, which has been producing medical products for over 34 years, will continue its operations. Abela noted that this investment is part of a series of new initiatives, including those in software development and gaming. He expressed the government’s satisfaction with companies like Baxter, Trelleborg, and ST continuing to expand their investments, highlighting that this is Baxter’s third expansion. (TVM)
Malta’s finch capture is illegal, ECJ told
The European Court of Justice has been advised that Malta breached its obligations under EU law by implementing a derogation scheme allowing the live capture of seven species of wild finches. In an expert opinion, Advocate General Tamara Ćapeta concluded that the Finches Project, in both its design and execution, is “flawed” and should not be recognised as serving a legitimate research purpose. Therefore, it cannot be justified under the derogation of the Directive. Advocate General Ćapeta determined that Malta’s Finches Project does not constitute a genuine research initiative, as the current levels of capture and disturbance of wild finches are disproportionate to the scientific benefits, making it unjustifiable under EU law. In a statement, the hunters’ association Kaċċaturi San Ubertu claimed that the EU Advocate General, who has never set foot in Malta, and the European Commission lacked firsthand factual information. They asserted that the officials relied entirely on reports from BirdLife Malta and its partners, who have long sought a complete ban on trapping. (Times of Malta)
PN calls on Police, AG to ‘do their job’
PN leader Bernard Grech called on the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General to fulfill their duties following the annulment of an 11-hour court session on the hospitals scandal due to a technicality. Speaking on Net FM, the Opposition leader remarked that the scandal has caused significant shockwaves both in Malta and internationally. During a court hearing on Tuesday, it was revealed that the police had not conducted any independent investigations into the matter. Grech urged Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa and Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg to prioritize their responsibilities to the country and the constitution during these critical times. (The Malta Independent)
