A wide-ranging of discussion topics make their way in today’s Editorials.
Today’s Times of Malta reviews recent changes in the Nationalist Party, noting how after a few years of drift and division, there are signs that the Nationalist Party is rallying. The Editorial comments on the soul-searching exercise led by party stalwart Louis Galea and a parliamentary group under Claudio Grech, the PN is about to embark on a wide-ranging policy review “to improve the party’s outreach to civil society and to develop effective policies”. The vision that emerges from these policy studies must therefore invigorate people with hope of more efficient governance and a better future. The Editor that a strong opposition is required for an effective democracy in our country.
The Independent takes Air Malta’s pilots to task, asking them to carry some of the weight of the troubles the company finds itself in. When the airport was closed in March, the airline’s turnover went down to zero. This was not an easy decision for the government to take, but the seriousness of the situation at the time required such drastic action. It argues that the choice was simple: lose part of your salary or lose your job entirely. Yet the airline pilots are refusing to accept this reality and have endangered not only their jobs but also those of their fellow colleagues at Air Malta.
The Business Today discusses realities in the manufacturing industries, recommending an important role for this sector in Malta’s economic regeneration. It welcomes government’s plans to invest 400 million euro in infrastructure, but argues that investment in infrastructure alone will not be enough. Government through Malta Enterprise must embark on an aggressive international effort to attract new manufacturing companies to Malta. ME must also entice existing factories to expand. The country’s health system, its use of the English language, its relative safety, its proximity to major European markets, its hardworking labour force, its good education system, its sea and air connections are all plus points to attract new business.
In-Nazzjon focuses on the most recent report by the European Commission on Malta, which provided a number of country-specific recommendations. The Editor notes how once again the lack of good governance and issues related to corruption were highlighted by the EU institution. Of particular concern for international institutions were the citizenship scheme as well as the appointment of people close to the ruling part to lead national agencies and organisations.
L-Orizzont calls for increased awareness with regard to certain issues that remain prevalent or are actually increasing in Malta’s employment market, particularly among low-income workers. This includes the fact that certain workers are being forced to accept longer hours without compensation, the male-female wage gap and exploitation of migrants at the workplace.
