Cabinet to decide on revised db Group concession deal Cabinet is expected to discuss a revised agreement with db Group that would defer over €4 million in ground rent until the end of the company’s 99-year concession at St George’s Bay. The updated terms, reportedly less favourable than earlier drafts, are aimed at compensating db Group for delays linked to the court-annulled Planning Authority permit for the Pembroke mega-project. Works only resumed in 2023 after a new permit was granted. The rent, if deferred, would be adjusted for inflation when settled decades from now. db Group has claimed the delays caused financial harm and recently reiterated its threat to seek damages in court. (Times of Malta)
PM announces Mater Dei psychiatric ward expansion, pledges continued mental health investment Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that a tender has been issued for the expansion of the psychiatric ward at Mater Dei Hospital, describing the project as part of the Government’s ongoing investment in mental health. Speaking on ONE TV, Dr Abela said acute care should be delivered next to the main hospital for more integrated treatment. He highlighted recent efforts in community-based services and reaffirmed mental health as a national priority. The Prime Minister also revealed that the Child Development Assessment Unit will move to a new facility, and referenced continued investment at the Oncology Centre and the Hospice Malta project. On energy, he insisted that subsidies for households and businesses will remain. (TVM)
PN urges local plan update for Valletta after UNESCO heritage warning
The Nationalist Party has raised concerns over a new UNESCO report warning that Malta’s planning framework could jeopardise Valletta’s World Heritage status. The party said the findings echo its calls for modernised local plans, arguing that current policies no longer reflect Malta’s social, economic, and environmental realities. The UNESCO committee cited pressure from tourism, lack of height control, and the absence of a protective buffer zone. It has asked Malta to submit a comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment by December 2026. The PN criticised the government’s handling of cultural heritage, citing the Evans Building redevelopment as lacking transparency and community input. (Maltatoday)
Trade unions criticise U-turn on mandatory membership as employers welcome decision
Trade unions expressed disappointment after the government dropped plans to introduce mandatory union membership, calling it a missed opportunity to protect vulnerable workers. The General Workers’ Union and UĦM said the policy shift undermines efforts to tackle worker exploitation and ensure fair representation. They renewed calls for automatic enrolment with opt-out options and warned that failing to act could worsen inequality. Employers, meanwhile, welcomed the decision. The Malta Employers’ Association and Chamber of Commerce said mandatory unionisation would violate individual freedoms and harm industrial relations. They argued that union membership should remain voluntary and that existing legal frameworks already allow workers to organise freely. The abandoned proposal had been a Labour electoral pledge, but the government said legal advice advised against implementation. (The Malta Independent)
