Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul and Member of Parliament Rosianne Cutajar earlier addressed a press conference where they outlined a series of proposals launched as part of the Labour Party’s “INT Malta, il-ħolma tiegħek, il-proġett tagħna” campaign, centred on giving families more time together and improving their quality of life.

They touched on a series of proposals announced so far in the manifesto, building on a strong track record by a Labour Government that has consistently prioritised work life balance and increased time for families through concrete measures and stronger support systems.

Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul outlined a number of measures already implemented, all aimed at strengthening support systems for families and increasing the time they can spend together, particularly during key moments in their lives.

Measures already implemented include:

Extension of Urgent Family Leave from 15 hours to four working days

Introduction of Parental Leave, with a commitment to strengthen it further

Increase in Paternity Leave from one day to ten days, with a commitment to extend it to one month

100 hours of IVF leave, including for self employed workers

Introduction of Miscarriage Leave and the Early Pregnancy Unit

Extension of Maternity Leave to cover stillbirths

Introduction of Parental Bereavement Leave

Introduction of leave for parents who have children through surrogacy abroad

Ongoing work on NPICU Support Leave for parents of babies requiring intensive care

Progress on the Right to Disconnect, alongside discussions on flexible working arrangements such as remote work, flexi time and compressed weeks, with incentives for employers

He stressed that many of these measures addressed situations where families previously had little or no support, noting that in cases such as surrogacy and stillbirth, parents did not have even a single day of leave, whereas today they benefit from structured support systems that recognise their realities.

He added that these are significant changes, with a clear commitment to deliver more if entrusted again. These achievements, he noted, are the result of continuous discussion, consultation and collaboration between Government, workers’ representatives and employers, giving the Labour Party the credibility to go further and ensure that people have more time with their families.

He further emphasised that a strong economy is not only about tax cuts or financial bonuses. While such measures contribute to economic wellbeing, they are not enough on their own. The priority is to improve quality of life by giving people more time with their families, because what parents need most is time.

He added that further proposals can be delivered because Malta is in a strong financial position, noting that according to the International Monetary Fund, the country is expected to maintain the highest economic growth in Europe up to 2031, provided the economy continues to be managed responsibly.

Families today, he said, have rightly raised their aspirations and expectations, and this lies at the heart of the Labour Party’s project, to understand these aspirations, particularly the desire for more time with family, and turn them into reality. Reflecting on the past, he noted that there were those who said such progress was not possible, but stressed that the country has moved forward and must continue doing so.

He emphasised that the manifesto being presented by Robert Abela and the Labour Party is centred on the wellbeing of all, with the aim of building a society where time for oneself and for family is valued as much as employment and income, describing this as a key difference being proposed through the “INT Malta, il-ħolma tiegħek, il-proġett tagħna” vision.

Member of Parliament Rosianne Cutajar then turned to the next phase of proposals, emphasising that these are concrete measures designed to make a real difference in people’s lives.

She underlined that this project goes beyond a slogan, reflecting a politics centred around people, their dreams and their aspirations, and one that is committed to turning these into reality. Under a Labour Government, she noted, families are already benefiting from a better quality of life, but the aim is to continue improving further, with Government remaining alongside families at every stage of their lives.

The Labour Party’s manifesto is not only fully costed but also built around a wellbeing index designed to improve quality of life. Building on previous work, these proposals are expected to significantly improve people’s lives, with a focus on delivering a better, easier and more fulfilling life.

Among the proposals put forward are:

Increasing maternity leave by eight weeks, bringing it to 26 weeks

Extending parental leave for the second parent to one month

Introducing six months of government paid parental leave, up to a maximum of €26,000, which can be shared between parents according to their needs

Granting up to one year of paid leave in the first year after a child is born, with an additional 28 days in the second year

Extending benefits under the “Our Next Home” scheme so that families growing their household can benefit again from first time buyer incentives and grants

Increasing the birth bonus to €5,000 for each child, with €3,000 paid during the first seven months of pregnancy and a further €2,000 after the child is born, ensuring support at the moments that matter most

These measures, she emphasised, reflect a clear understanding of the realities families face. The importance of the mother’s presence during the most vulnerable stages after birth was highlighted, alongside the crucial role of fathers, recognising that raising children is a shared responsibility.

Parental leave is therefore being strengthened, fully paid by Government and designed to be shared between parents, without placing additional burdens on employers. The aim is to support parents in being present in their children’s lives, recognising how essential that presence is for their emotional and physical development.

A dedicated proposal on sports leave was also highlighted, aimed at ensuring that representing Malta does not come at the expense of personal or family time.

Under this measure, athletes in the private sector who form part of national teams will benefit from up to 10 days of sports leave when competing internationally, with the same applying to technical and medical teams. This leave will be paid by Government and will be additional, meaning it will not be deducted from personal leave, ensuring that time with family is protected.

A clear contrast was also drawn with past policies under a Nationalist Government, where workers lost public holidays when these fell on weekends, reducing time with their families. Over time, this resulted in a loss of around 60 days, equivalent to more than two and a half years of leave.

That policy was removed in the first Budget under Prime Minister Robert Abela in 2021, restoring this time to workers. Since then, workers have been compensated with additional leave, with 19 extra days already granted and further days added this year.

Both speakers emphasised that these proposals, together with the measures already implemented, reflect a clear vision for the country, one that puts families first and prioritises their wellbeing. It is about building an economy that serves people better, giving families not just financial support, but more time together.

This is a Labour Government that is with you at every stage of your life, committed to improving your life and that of your family, because you are Malta and you are at the heart of everything we do.