The General Workers’ Union (GWU) has revealed its comprehensive proposals for Malta’s 2025 Budget, aiming to shape a national vision focused on improving citizens’ quality of life. The proposals, presented during a press conference at the Workers’ Memorial Building in Valletta by GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja and President Victor Carachi, cover a wide range of issues including employment, governance, health, education, and the environment.
One of the standout proposals is the automatic enrollment of workers into a trade union of their choice, a policy endorsed by the Labour Party in its 2022 Electoral Manifesto. This measure is intended to combat worker exploitation and enhance job quality. Economic growth is another key focus, with the GWU projecting a 4.3% growth in 2025, driven by exports, tourism, and ongoing government support for energy prices. The union has called for more prudent public spending to ensure wealth distribution benefits Malta’s most vulnerable populations.
Energy and cost-of-living concerns also feature prominently in the GWU’s proposals, with continued support for subsidies on energy and fuel prices. The union also backs the “Stabbilità fil-Prezzijiet” scheme to stabilize food prices. In response to shifting work patterns, the GWU is advocating for updates to labor laws to better protect remote and flexible workers. It has also proposed double pay for work performed on Sundays and public holidays, and called for mental health first-aiders to be present in every workplace.
Additional proposals focus on enhancing work-life balance, including increased parental leave pay, pension boosts, greener investments, stricter emission standards, and subsidies for electric vehicles. The GWU also stresses the need for more social housing and the extension of the Equity Sharing Scheme for low-income individuals to address rising housing costs.
The union’s recommendations extend into education, sustainability, youth, infrastructure, and support for the disabled and visually impaired. Specific investment in Gozo’s infrastructure, including road and parking improvements, is also highlighted.
These proposals have been presented to the Maltese Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) for further consideration.
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