Labour candidates Andy Ellul, Josef Bugeja and Lisa Cassar Shaw have outlined the Partit Laburista’s proposals for workers, employers and occupational health and safety, underlining what they described as Labour’s credibility in the world of work.

The candidates said that when Labour describes itself as the party of workers, it does so with a track record to show for it. Over recent years, they said, a series of reforms improved working conditions while being introduced in consultation with social partners and without creating conflict between employees and employers.

Andy Ellul said Labour has delivered certainty and stability both for workers who want to improve their position and for employers who invest and create jobs.

He referred to major reforms introduced in the last legislature, including annual increases in the minimum wage, the introduction of equal pay for equal work in both the public and private sectors, tougher penalties for breaches of employment law, a licensing system for employment agencies and a longer two-year period for workers to file complaints.

Ellul also highlighted Malta’s legislation in favour of better conditions for platform workers, the banning of zero-hour contracts, updated Wage Regulation Orders, the doubling of urgent family leave to four working days, and the introduction of miscarriage leave and bereavement leave for parents who lose a child.

Looking ahead, Labour is proposing a number of measures aimed at leaving more money in workers’ pockets. These include the annual €1,000 non-taxable worker bonus for those earning at least the equivalent of the minimum wage, including the self-employed, working pensioners and part-time workers. Part-time workers earning less than €12,000 annually would receive a pro-rata bonus of not less than €500.

Young people entering the world of work would pay no income tax on the first €30,000 earned each year during their first three years of work, allowing them to save up to €12,300. This would also apply to young people launching their first start-up.

Labour is also proposing to increase the amount of part-time income taxed at 10%, from €10,000 to €15,000 for employees, and from €12,000 to €20,000 for self-employed part-timers.

Ellul also referred to Labour’s proposal to open discussions with social partners on the right to request flexible work arrangements, including remote working, flexi-time, compressed weeks, reduced hours or part-time work. Employers would be required to consider such requests and reply within a set timeframe, while retaining the right to refuse them when the nature of the work or business operations do not allow such flexibility.

Businesses wishing to modernise their work model would be offered free consultancy. Those employing fewer than 50 workers and shifting to remote work could benefit from a grant of up to €1,000 per employee, capped at €50,000, to cover costs such as hardware, software and secure internet connections.

Josef Bugeja said the Maltese economy and the nature of work have changed drastically, and institutions must keep up with this change. For this reason, Labour is proposing to transform the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations into an authority with stronger powers and resources, reflecting the size of today’s labour market and offering quicker remedies to workers.

He also referred to the first academic training centre of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, inaugurated in 2025, saying Labour would continue investing in training and develop the centre further for practical safety instruction.

Bugeja said Labour wants to encourage more people aged 61 and over to remain in work if they wish to do so, even if they already have enough contributions to retire. These workers would receive an additional €500 per year in recognition of their contribution, over and above the €1,000 worker bonus.

On skills, he highlighted the Individual Learning Accounts proposal, through which Government would contribute €500 per year for every child for ten years, creating a fund of up to €5,000 for education, accredited training and upskilling later in life.

Full-time private sector workers would also benefit from paid study leave funded by Government, starting from two days per year and increasing up to ten days depending on the level of study being followed.

Bugeja also said Labour wants workers in SMEs to have access to the same opportunities as those in larger companies. To support this, Labour would work with social partners to create a pool of trainers, including foreign trainers, available to provide training across different businesses.

Lisa Cassar Shaw focused on occupational health and safety, saying Labour’s work in favour of workers’ protection would be consolidated through a new national strategy on workplace health and safety.

She said the strategy would bring together experience and resources to protect workers’ wellbeing and ensure every worker receives the protection and value they deserve.

Cassar Shaw said Labour would update employment laws to protect workers using remote work or other modern work arrangements. Legislative changes would ensure these workers are not discriminated against or denied training and promotion opportunities because of such arrangements.

She also said the workplace must provide both physical safety and psychological support. Labour would strengthen the mandate of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority so that it can introduce administrative measures to prevent workplace stress.

The proposals also recognise that health and safety is not only about physical risk, but also about mental and social wellbeing. Labour would introduce policies and support schemes addressing psychosocial risks at work, including early intervention systems, initiatives to help workers return after difficult periods and specialised tools for risk assessment.

Cassar Shaw also referred to measures aimed at helping people with mental health challenges return to employment. Labour would offer incentives to employers to take such workers back on a part-time or reduced-hours basis, with the possibility of eventually returning to full-time work.

Workers who spend a long period receiving care in a mental health institution would also receive up to two years of credited social security contributions, ensuring they are not penalised for seeking help.

Together, the candidates said these proposals show Labour’s approach to the world of work: better wages, stronger rights, more flexible work, continuous training, safer workplaces and support for both workers and employers in a changing economy.