Updated 1100
MUMN Slams Allied Health Deal as ‘Betrayal’ to Nurses and Midwives: The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has requested a meeting with Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela over a new Allied Health agreement it says unfairly benefits other healthcare professionals while sidelining nurses and midwives. The union said the agreement allows Allied Health workers to progress through salary scales and introduces overtime-based contractual arrangements, while nurses and midwives were denied similar financial improvements. MUMN warned the schemes reflect chronic understaffing and argued nurses and midwives have become Malta’s lowest-paid health professionals despite severe workforce shortages. The union described the agreement as a “betrayal” that risks discouraging young people from entering the professions. (Maltatoday)
Naxxar Development Collapse Site Described as ‘Very Dangerous’ in Engineering Report: A report by University of Malta professor and structural engineer Alex Torpiano described the site of last week’s partial collapse at an AC Group development in Naxxar as “very precarious” and questioned the construction methods used. The report linked the collapse to severe pressure imbalances caused by backfilled construction material against an adjacent excavated void, warning that parts of the structure are unstable and could fail without warning. It also raised concerns about similar risks in nearby sections of the site. Remedial backfilling works are underway under strict conditions imposed by the Building and Construction Authority, while a stop-work order remains in force. (The Times of Malta)
Morning Briefing
Full-time and part-time jobs continue to rise – NSO
Full-time employment in Malta increased by 4.8% in December 2025 compared with the previous year, while part-time work as a primary job rose by 5.3%, according to NSO figures based on Jobsplus data. The labour supply, excluding part-timers, reached 305,462, driven by growth in full-time employment and a marginal rise in registered unemployment. Administrative and support services, together with information and communication, recorded the strongest gains, contributing over 4,000 additional jobs year-on-year. Private sector employment increased by 11,916 to 248,690, while the public sector rose by 2,007 to 55,536. Self-employment also grew by 888. Part-time employment increased by 8.4%, with transport and accommodation and food services leading the gains. Those holding a part-time job as their main occupation rose to 36,237, up 5.3% year-on-year. (Times of Malta)
Leaders clash over economy and credibility at SMEs debate
Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Alex Borg clashed over economic policy, credibility and labour shortages during a debate hosted by the Malta Chamber of SMEs. Borg said the PN’s manifesto focuses on SMEs and aims to diversify Malta’s economy through new sectors. He criticised government policy as lacking long-term direction. Abela defended Labour’s economic record since 2013, saying Malta had sustained growth through multiple crises. He highlighted plans to reduce debt and maintain a budget surplus, contrasting Malta with austerity-driven EU economies.The Prime Minister repeatedly questioned PN financial assumptions, accusing the Opposition of presenting inconsistent figures. The debate also covered procurement, Gozo development and labour market pressures, with both leaders presenting sharply contrasting economic visions. (The Malta Independent)
Corruption and mistrust driving youth disengagement, study shows
A new survey of among students has found that corruption and lack of trust are among the main reasons young people disengage from Maltese politics. The study, The Silent Third, published by Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM), found 59.4% cite corruption as a barrier to participation, while 46.9% point to lack of trust in institutions and 38.9% believe politics is dominated by insiders. Cost of living (73.1%) and housing affordability (64.6%) ranked as top concerns. However, only 26.9% said political debate reflects youth priorities, while 38.3% cited partisan conflict. Although 60% of respondents intend to vote, many remain uncertain or disengaged due to trust deficits and perceived lack of relevance. The study concludes that youth participation is increasingly conditional rather than absent. (Maltatoday)
