Updated 1220
Public sector jobs increase by 2,261
Employment in Malta continued its upward trend in June 2025, with full-time jobs increasing by 4.2% and part-time positions as the main employment rising by 5.5% compared to June 2024, Jobsplus data shows. Total workforce numbers (excluding part-timers) grew by 4.1% to reach 298,333. Full-time roles surged in administrative and support services (+2,091) and human health and social work (+1,415), while private sector employment rose by 9,755 and public sector jobs by 2,261. More people now hold both full-time and part-time work, reaching 47,504, a 10.1% increase, while those with only part-time employment numbered 36,384. Male full-time employment rose 3.9%, female 4.6% over the year. (Times of Malta)
Malta Allocates €93 Million for Justice and Construction Reforms
The Maltese government will allocate €93 million in 2026 to modernise the justice system and advance reforms in the construction sector. Minister Jonathan Attard announced the funding at Valletta’s Courts of Justice, highlighting investments in efficiency, digitalisation, and specialised courts. Key initiatives include the new Drug Court, a Commercial Court for business disputes, and expanded judicial personnel, with two new judges and two magistrates recently sworn in. The budget marks an 11% increase over 2025, with €74 million earmarked for justice. Other priorities include enhanced victims’ rights, streamlined family court processes, and infrastructure improvements. Officials stressed that reforms aim to make justice more accessible, resilient, and responsive to citizen needs. (The Malta Independent)
Fiscal Council Warns Against Reliance on Domestic Demand
The Malta Fiscal Advisory Council has cautioned that Malta’s economic growth remains overly reliant on domestic demand, risking pressure on infrastructure and fiscal sustainability. Assessing government macroeconomic forecasts, the council noted that while projections for 2025–26 are broadly acceptable, growth expectations for 2025 may be optimistic, with downside risks prevailing. MFAC emphasised the need to shift from consumption-driven expansion to export-led growth, arguing that continued reliance on private and government spending offers limited long-term benefits. The council’s warning underscores the importance of diversifying Malta’s economic drivers and strengthening external competitiveness to ensure sustainable growth while reducing vulnerability to domestic and international shocks. (Newsbook)
40% of Maltese shops do not accept card payments
Despite the rise of cashless transactions, four in every 10 shops and restaurants across Malta and Gozo still do not accept card payments, according to the National Statistics Office. The 2024 survey, based on VAT-registered businesses, found that 60% of retail outlets are equipped for card transactions. Gozitan businesses lead the way, with 68% accepting cards, compared to 55–56% in Malta’s southeastern and western towns. Restaurants and holiday accommodations are less well-equipped, with just under 63% offering card payments. Nevertheless, cashless transactions are growing, reaching €596 million in August—the highest monthly total since 2022—reflecting a slow but steady shift towards digital payments. (Times of Malta)
Maltese Artists Criticise AI Use in Junior Eurovision Video
Over 220 local artists and organisations have criticised PBS after the music video for Eliza Borg’s Junior Eurovision entry, I Believe, was produced using generative AI. Signatories said the decision sidelines Maltese talent, ignoring warnings about the unchecked use of AI in cultural projects. Choreographers, directors, musicians, and other creative professionals were excluded from the production, which critics described as visually uniform and narratively unoriginal. The open letter follows earlier appeals from Solidarjetà and the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association urging PBS to consult the local creative sector. Artists emphasised that Malta has a wealth of skilled professionals ready to contribute, warning that AI-driven projects risk undermining the visibility and sustainability of the national creative industry. (The Malta Independent)
Government Prepares Draft Bill on Living Wills
The Maltese government is preparing a draft bill to introduce “living wills” into national law, Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg confirmed. The move follows a two-month public consultation on assisted voluntary euthanasia that attracted over 15,000 submissions, with the living will proposal receiving particularly strong support. Buttigieg explained that living wills would allow individuals to record their preferences regarding medical treatment, including end-of-life care, though any instructions would remain subject to existing legal requirements. She emphasised that a living will acts as a statement of intent rather than granting automatic entitlement to euthanasia. The government aims to enshrine this new right while ensuring clarity, legal safeguards, and respect for individual autonomy. (Maltatoday)
