Labour publishes its manifesto: Here is a breakdown

The Labour Party on Friday published its electoral manifesto title Int Malta. The 265-page manifesto is divided in 24 chapters covering various aspects of life and governance. Below are four key proposals from each of the chapters:

1. AN ECONOMY THAT CREATES WEALTH

• Fiscal bonus: Introduction of a €1,000 annual “bonus ta' bżulija” for all workers earning at least the minimum wage.
• Bureaucracy reduction: A target to cut administrative “red tape” by 35% using AI and the “once-only” data principle.
• Banking rights: Guaranteeing businesses the legal right to open a basic bank account to facilitate easier operations.
• National business wallet: A digital platform where businesses can securely store all licences, permits, and due diligence documents.

2. A NEW WORLD OF WORK

• Skills registry: Developing a national register to identify local workforce skills and gaps, using AI to reduce reliance on foreign labour.
• Wage regulation reform: Eliminating inconsistencies in working conditions and rights across different groups of workers.
• Future lab: Transforming the National Skills Council into “Malta's Future Lab” to prepare the workforce for technological shifts.
• Paid internships: Formal recognition of internships and traineeships in labour law to ensure students and graduates receive fair pay.

3. EDUCATION

• Curriculum overhaul: Updating the national curriculum to prioritise modern literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.
• Individualised support: Daily half-hour sessions for students struggling with core subjects like Maltese, English, or Mathematics.
• Early multilingualism: Introducing a third language at a very young age through play and interactive learning.
• Erasmus bonus: Providing an additional €1,000 grant for students participating in Erasmus+ exchange programmes.

4. YOUR HOME

• Family inheritance: Total exemption from stamp duty for children receiving property from parents as a primary residence.
• Donation threshold: Raising the tax-exempt threshold for non-primary residence property donations from parents to children to €1,000,000.
• Affordable housing loans: Interest-free loans for first-time buyers covering up to 25% of a property’s value.
• Buyers’ charter: Implementation of a new charter to protect property owners and ensure fair standards in the real estate market.

5. FAMILIES AND WELLBEING

• Birth bonus: Increasing the birth bonus to €5,000 per child, with a significant portion paid during pregnancy.
• Shared parental leave: Introducing six months of state-paid parental leave that can be split between parents.
• Paternity leave: Doubling paternity leave to a full month.
• Expanded maternity leave: Increasing total maternity leave to 26 weeks.

6-8. SOCIAL PROTECTION & INCLUSION

• Poverty reduction: Setting a national goal to lower the risk of poverty to below 16% within five years.
• Pension increase: A guaranteed annual increase of at least €10 per week for all pensioners.
• Disability support plans: Personalised “individual support plans” for persons with disabilities, covering costs for independent living.
• Vulnerability protection: Gradually increasing asset limits (to €30,000 for couples) for eligibility for non-contributory pensions and social assistance.

14-15. ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

• 10-minute walk rule: A commitment to ensure every citizen is within a 10-minute walk of a green space.
• Manoel Island: Returning Manoel Island to the public and changing local plans to prohibit future development.
• National water fountains: Partnering with local councils to install drinking water fountains in every locality.
• Street lighting: Completing a nationwide upgrade to modern, efficient street lighting by 2028 to reduce emissions and energy use.

​16. RESILIENT ENERGY

• Renewable target: Increasing the share of renewable energy by 25% by 2030.
• Vehicle-to-grid (V2G): Launching a pilot project allowing electric cars to store energy and feed it back into the national grid.
• Infrastructure investment: Significant investment in a second interconnector and large-scale energy storage systems.
• Shore-to-ship extension: Expanding clean energy systems for ships at port to reduce coastal pollution.

21-22. SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Migration efficiency: Speeding up the return of individuals not eligible for asylum while maintaining strict control over irregular migration.
• Interactive justice: Launching an AI-powered chatbot to provide general legal information and public access to justice.
• Digital courts: Full digitisation of court cases through a new management information system.
• Judicial academy: Establishing a dedicated academy to provide continuous training and education for members of the judiciary.

23-24. GOVERNANCE & GLOBAL ROLE

• Ethics reform: Updating the code of ethics for ministers and MPs to reflect modern transparency standards.
• Council funding: Giving local councils direct revenue from tourist eco-contributions and outdoor dining permits.
• Youth working holidays: Expanding working holiday agreements beyond Japan to allow young Maltese to work in more countries globally.
• Diplomatic hub: Strengthening Malta’s role as a mediator and host for international monitoring centres, such as maritime sanctions monitoring.