SME Chamber warns against unsustainable electoral pledges

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has called on political parties to exercise caution over the growing number of electoral promises being announced without prior consultation with social partners, saying such measures would directly impact employers and businesses.

"While we recognise that electoral campaigns generate considerable enthusiasm and at times overly ambitious pledges, we cannot remain passive when such promises have a direct impact on the livelihoods of small businesses and their employees," the Chamber said.

Micro and small enterprises make up the absolute majority of businesses in Malta, and the Chamber warned they would be disproportionately affected by measures introduced without proper consultation.

Social partners, it said, expect to be consulted in advance on any proposed incentives that may affect SMEs, in line with established practice.

The Chamber expressed concern that several proposals do little to enhance productivity or address the labour shortage, and that a blanket approach to their implementation could prove unsustainable in practice, with repercussions for both businesses and their employees.

It also cautioned that even measures not directly targeting small businesses could reduce investor confidence.

The SME Chamber called for greater maturity and responsibility in public commitments, saying proposals should be grounded in proper feasibility assessments rather than driven solely by electoral motives.

It said it is currently working on a number of constructive proposals and remains committed to engaging with all stakeholders, and welcomed discussion on solutions that support sustainable economic growth while addressing the realities faced by Malta's SMEs.