Month: May 2025

Prime Minister Robert Abela launched the Social Plan for the Family 2025-2030: a strategic policy framework designed to support and empower families in all their forms. 

This comprehensive plan sets out the government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for families and promoting stronger family units across the Maltese society. The plan addresses a broad spectrum of priorities, including targeted assistance for vulnerable families, and measures to promote stronger family relationships, particularly by encouraging more quality time together. It also places emphasis on discussions with social partners on extending maternity and paternity leave. Another key pillar of the plan focuses on the holistic education and healthy upbringing of children, as well as the enhancement of Malta’s fertility rate. Over the next five years the government will implement more than seventy policy actions, targeted to further support all family units.

During the launch event, Prime Minister Robert Abela noted that the plan marks the first set of targeted measures aimed at enhancing fertility rates. He emphasised that the government is addressing this issue holistically through a range of actions, including improved working conditions, affordable housing, fairer tax rates, enhanced social benefits, a better natural environment for families to enjoy, and improved access to healthcare and medical treatments.

Prime Minister Robert Abela also referred to the ongoing reform within the Family Court, underlining that provided it is not harmful to children, they should have equal access to both parents. He emphasised the importance of preserving and strengthening family bonds even in challenging circumstances. In addition, the Prime Minister noted the government’s intention to incentivise and reward businesses that adopt family-friendly workplace measures, helping employees achieve a healthier balance between professional and family life.

Referring to Malta Vision 2050, the prime minister underscored the importance of fostering stronger, more resilient families for the future. He expressed satisfaction that work on many of the proposed measures is already underway, while additional initiatives are being integrated into the planning of the upcoming national budget.

The prime minister also highlighted that between 2014 and 2023, government expenditure on social benefits, both contributory and non-contributory, rose by 53%. This increased investment was accompanied by a significant decline in the number of individuals relying on social assistance, which was halved between 2013 and 2024. Dr Abela affirmed that this level of support is a direct outcome of Malta’s sustained economic growth and is a testament to the country’s inclusive model, ensuring that more people, especially the most vulnerable, benefit from national prosperity.

The prime minister remarked that our country is built on the strength of its workers and its families hence the investment being made by the Government in families is an investment in our country’s prosperity.

Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon explained that the plan aims to address the evolving realities faced by families, including challenges that are not solely financial. He noted, “This policy is the product of extensive work, shaped by the lived experiences of children, adults, and even grandparents, who all play a vital role in raising the younger generation.” He further emphasised that the implementation of this document is now the most critical phase, essential to delivering the social momentum needed to strengthen families and encourage more people to start a family.

Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela jżur The Waterfront Hotel li għalqet 25 sena u li qed timplimenta inizjattiva ambjentali li biha tgħin lill-komunità

Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela żar The Waterfront Hotel bħala parti miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet li jimmarkaw il-25 anniversarju mit-twaqqif ta’ din il-lukanda. Il-Prim Ministru ġie milqugħ minn membri tal-familja Mizzi u minn dawk li jmexxu l-lukanda, fejn ingħata tagħrif dwar l-investimenti sostanzjali li saru f’dawn l-aħħar sentejn sabiex minn din il-lukanda tittejjeb l-esperjenza tal-klijenti filwaqt li jkompli jogħla l-livell ta’ kwalità tas-servizz.

Matul iż-żjara tiegħu, il-Prim Ministru seta’ jara mill-qrib il-proġetti ta’ rinnovazzjoni li saru fl-aħħar snin, b’investiment totali ta’ madwar €2.5 miljun u aktar minn €1 miljun ieħor ippjanat għal din is-sena. Ir-rinnovazzjoni tinkludi fosthom tibdil ta’ kmamar kif ukoll tisbiħ mill-ġdid tar-ristorant prinċipali, il-kċina, il-faċilitajiet tal-ħasil, u sistemi ta’ enerġija u arja kkundizzjonata effiċjenti u sostenibbli.

Waqt żjara f’waħda mill-kmamar rinnovati ta’ din il-lukanda, il-General Manager Frederick Curmi spjega kif din il-lukanda tikkunsidra wkoll l-impatt tagħha fuq il-komunità Ġżirjana. Għalhekk tnediet l-inizjattiva ‘Do Not Clean My Room’ fejn kull klijent li jiddeċiedi li ma jużax il-faċilitajiet ta’ tindif tal-kamra jkun qed jikkontribwixxi għal fondi li jingħataw lill-kunsill lokali għal tħawwil ta’ siġar u tisbiħ taż-żona.

Waqt l-indirizz tiegħu, il-Prim Ministru faħħar l-impenn kontinwu tal-Waterfront Hotel favur turiżmu ta’ kwalità u sostenibbli, f’konformità mal-Viżjoni Malta 2050. “Proġetti bħal dawn huma xhieda ta’ kif nistgħu nibqgħu noħolqu aktar ġid għal pajjiżna filwaqt li nżidu l-kwalità fis-settur turistiku”, sostna l-Prim Ministru Robert Abela. Huwa faħħar is-sens ta’ innovazzjoni u r-rieda biex il-prodott turistiku ta’ pajjiżna jkompli jogħla bis-sehem ta’ stakeholders fis-settur tal-ospitalità. Spjega kif pajjiżna qed jiffoka fuq il-kwalità aktar milli l-kwantità biex inħallu valur miżjud fl-ekonomija.

Il-Prim Ministru temm billi feraħ lit-tmexxija u lill-impjegati għall-kontribut siewi tagħhom fis-settur tal-ospitalità, u awgura aktar snin ta’ suċċess u eċċellenza.

F’laqgħa mal-bord tal-tmexxija il-ġdida tal-Kamra tal-Kummerċ, il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela qal li l-laqgħat kordjali u l-ħidma konġunta li kien hemm fis snin li għaddew se tibqa’ għaddejja mat-tim il-ġdid tal-Kamra għaliex biha jgawdi l-poplu Malti u l-kollaborazzjoni tkompli tissarraf f’ġid ekonomiku.

Fil-laqgħa f’Kastilja, il-Prim Ministru tkellem dwar it-tbassir ekonomiku tajjeb tal-ekonomija Maltija u s-sentiment b’saħħtu ħafna fost il-komunità kummerċjali Maltija. Semma li l-Budget li ġej ser jkun Budget ieħor ġeneruż li jmur id f’id ukoll mal-prinċipji ewlenin tal-Viżjoni Malta 2050, jiġifieri tkabbir ekonomiku sostenibbli, servizzi iffukati fuq iċ-ċittadini, reżiljenza u edukazzjoni moderna u użu intelliġenti tal-art u l-baħar.

Dwar il-Viżjoni Malta 2050 tkellem wkoll il-President il-ġdid tal-Kamra tal-Kummerċ, William Spiteri Bailey, li qal kif fuq din il-viżjoni għall-25 sena li ġejjin saret ħidma tajba ta’ preparazzjoni mal-Gvern. Preparazzjoni simili saret wkoll fuq riformi oħra bħall-Malta Labour Migration Policy u anke l-introduzzjoni tal-miscarriage leave.

Iż-żewġ naħat trattaw ukoll għadd ta’ temi oħra inkluż l-armonizzazzjoni fit-taxxa u elementi varji oħra li jiġbdu l-kumpaniji lejn pajjiżna.

Għal din il-laqgħa kien hemm preżenti wkoll fost oħrajn il-Ministri Byron Camilleri, Miriam Dalli u Clyde Caruana, is-Segretarju Permanenti Ewlieni Tony Sultana kif ukoll il-Kap tas-Segretarjat tal-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru, il-Kurunell Mark Mallia.

Prime Minister Robert Abela inaugurated a net zero carbon facility of the Water Services Corporation (WSC), which has successfully completed an ambitious project of a main warehouse, net zero carbon, in Bulebel. With a total capital investment of €7.2 million, the WSC now has at its disposal innovative technologies that will enhance its operational efficiency and enable the corporation to achieve higher levels of sustainability. 

The warehouse has a total footprint of 2,000 square meters, designed to house inventory valued at approximately €9 million, encompassing 920 unique stock-keeping units (SKUs).  A hallmark of this new facility is its net zero energy design. Leveraging a cutting-edge photovoltaic (PV) system, the warehouse will generate 430,000 kWh of renewable energy annually. This energy output is sufficient to offset the facility’s operational energy consumption, ensuring that the building operates with zero carbon footprint.

During the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Robert Abela described the project as a significant milestone in enhancing energy efficiency and raising building and construction standards in Malta. He remarked that through such initiatives, the country is meeting todays and tomorrow’s challenges and turning them into opportunities.

The Prime Minister further emphasised that the project is in line with the Malta 2050 vision, a vision that fully embraces sustainability as a cornerstone of national development, aimed at securing a greener future for generations to come. He also reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to implement the necessary reforms to continue enhancing the quality of life. He said that the Government will be at the forefront in leading by example in implementing environmental initiatives.

Prior to the Prime Minister’s address, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli described the net zero warehouse as a project that shows a government leading by example; a strong example that let us spur other industries and the private sector to invest in sustainable practices as well. “The investments the Water Services Corporation is making prove that sustainability and efficiency are two sides of the same coin. Sustainability is not a slogan; it is the path forward we have chosen to follow, the conscious choice we make each and every day”, Minister Dalli said.

Chief of Executive of the Water Services Corporation Karl Cilia said that this new facility represents more than an investment in infrastructure, it’s an investment in efficiency, sustainability, and service excellence. “By consolidating our operations and generating clean energy onsite, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also delivering smarter, more resilient water services to the people of Malta”, Karl Cilia said.

George Vella, Partner at Grant Thornton Malta, the external auditors of the Water Services Corporation, said that the net zero warehouse is a tangible example of how public investment, strategic planning, and sustainability can come together to deliver long-term value. “This project, partly funded through WSC’s €25 million Green Bond, shows how targeted financing can directly support impactful infrastructure. Just as important is the Corporation’s commitment to transparency, with a real-time public portal now in place, WSC is setting a new standard in showing where and how funds are being invested”, Vella said.