Updated 1200
Malta Leads EU in SME Labour Shortages as Firms Turn to Non-EU Workers: Malta has the EU’s highest share of SMEs struggling to recruit skilled workers, with 66% reporting difficulties compared with 46% across the bloc, according to Flash Eurobarometer 571. Malta also recorded the highest rate of SMEs seeking workers from outside the EU, at 48%, more than three times the EU average of 14%. Recruitment challenges are particularly pronounced in industry and among medium-sized firms. Employers cited administrative procedures and language barriers as key obstacles, although most reported that integrating and retaining non-EU workers was relatively straightforward. (Maltatoday)
Maltese Revolut Customers Could Be Among Hundreds Hit by Data Breach: Maltese Revolut customers may be among 680 account holders affected by a recent data breach, according to the hacker claiming responsibility. Compromised information reportedly included names, addresses, verification photos and account details. Revolut has not confirmed whether Maltese accounts were affected, but said an unauthorised party used a legitimate government email domain to submit fraudulent information requests. The company said its systems and customer funds remain secure and that affected individuals were contacted. A Malta-based crypto entrepreneur has also reported receiving threats involving allegedly compromised personal information. (Newsbook)
MEIA Calls for National Strategy to Overhaul Malta’s Event Sponsorship System: The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) has welcomed the Malta Tourism Authority’s review of its sponsorship system, but called for wider reform covering events, cultural tourism and the night-time economy. It urged clear, transparent funding criteria linked to measurable economic, cultural and social objectives, alongside stronger conflict-of-interest safeguards and sector expertise. MEIA said public support should benefit both major international events and Malta’s local cultural ecosystem. It also called for an integrated national strategy addressing venues, licensing, transport, workforce conditions, accessibility, security and data collection. (The Malta Independent)
Morning Briefing
Fireworks laws set for comprehensive review
Home Affairs and Security Minister Glenn Bedingfield has appointed a committee chaired by former minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi to review Malta’s laws regulating pyrotechnics. The Minister said the committee would examine the existing legal framework, consult producers, workers, enthusiasts, volunteers, communities and the wider public, and recommend possible changes. Bedingfield stressed that the review was not intended to undermine Malta’s fireworks tradition, which he described as an important part of local festas and communities. Instead, he said the aim was to ensure fireworks could continue to be enjoyed safely under a regulatory framework that was “clear, modern, and fit for purpose”. The review forms part of a broader focus by the ministry on prevention, security structures, coordination between authorities and the updating of laws and procedures. (The Malta Independent)
Borg calls for stronger institutional accountability
Opposition leader Alex Borg used an Independence Day mass meeting to focus on questions of institutional accountability, transparency and public trust, accusing the government of giving conflicting messages on the state of Malta’s public finances. Borg referred to comments by the Chamber of Commerce president about the government’s public and private positions on spending, while also criticising what he described as inconsistencies in government statements on other matters. He said politics should be based on truth and argued that those in public office must be prepared to answer difficult questions. Borg also defended the role of journalists, saying criticism and uncomfortable questions were essential to democracy and public accountability. Nine years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, he said Malta was still waiting for justice and truth. He also raised concerns about compensation following the summer’s power blackouts. (Maltatoday)
Archbishop warns of pressure on Malta’s institutions
Archbishop Charles Scicluna has warned that informal networks becoming more powerful than Malta’s institutions could pose a threat to the country’s integrity and independence. Delivering his Independence Day homily at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Scicluna said transparency, foresight and accountability should underpin governance in both the State and the Church. He also linked Malta’s rapid economic and population growth to growing pressure on infrastructure and public services, including roads, housing, electricity, drainage, waste management, healthcare and the environment. While recognising the contribution of economic expansion and workers from abroad, he argued that growth also required careful planning and consideration of its longer-term consequences. Independence, he said, was not simply an achievement from the past but a responsibility passed from one generation to the next. His message stressed the need for sustainable population growth, economic foresight and institutions capable of serving the country effectively. (Times of Malta)
