Prime Minister Robert Abela visits expanding local business

Prime Minister Robert Abela has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Malta’s continued economic growth translates into tangible benefits for Maltese and Gozitan families. His remarks came during a visit to the PANINA outlet in Santa Venera, ahead of the rollout of the first 12 measures under the Malta Labour Migration Policy, set to come into force on 1st August.

Accompanied by Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri, the Prime Minister met with the owner and staff of PANINA, a homegrown business that has grown from a single outlet in Fgura to five locations across Malta, with plans to expand to eight by next year. The Santa Venera outlet is now also being upgraded with a larger kitchen to support operations across the entire chain.

Dr Abela praised the entrepreneurial spirit of the business’s founder, a Maltese entrepreneur who started from humble beginnings and now employs both Maltese and foreign workers based on operational needs. “We want to see more businesses flourish and grow, because their success drives national prosperity. It is encouraging to witness how employers are being empowered to continue investing and creating jobs,” Prime Minister Abela said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Malta Labour Migration Policy will offer concrete Government support to ethical employers, who make up the overwhelming majority. He stated that the policy is designed to foster a fairer, more stable employment landscape that benefits both businesses and workers alike. “Above all, this policy is about strengthening workers’ rights,” Dr Abela said. He outlined two major reforms: Employers who terminate workers without justified cause will be barred from recruiting replacements from third countries for the same role and the fee for employing new foreign workers will be doubled.

Dr Abela concluded by describing the policy as an ambitious step forward in labour reform firmly committed to Maltese people first.