Prime Minister Robert Abela said Labour’s electoral manifesto will be built around a wellbeing index aimed at measuring how policies improve people’s daily lives. He said it is expected to deliver a more than 25 percent increase in overall wellbeing.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Abela said the initiative is linked to the Int Malta manifesto and Vision 2050. He described it as a shift away from focusing only on economic growth. Instead, it looks at whether people’s lives are truly improving.

“We want to create wealth, but we want that wealth to positively impact people’s lives,” he said. He added that the index will allow every proposal to be measured objectively.

How the index works

The index is based on ten dimensions. These are environmental sustainability, local environmental quality, health, personal wellbeing, housing, social protection, civic participation and rights, income and wealth, education and skills, and quality of work.

Each dimension has two indicators. Environmental sustainability is measured through air quality and renewable energy. Personal wellbeing is measured through life satisfaction and free time. Quality of work includes gender equality and job satisfaction.

The data comes from official sources such as Eurostat and the National Statistics Office. It also draws on research from the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society in collaboration with the University of Malta.

Abela said every proposal in the manifesto is directly linked to the index. This creates a clear connection between policy and its impact on people’s lives.

25 percent improvement target

Abela said the full implementation of the manifesto is expected to lead to a more than 25 percent improvement in wellbeing.

“This is not just a number,” he said. “It means better health, more time with family, cleaner environments, more accessible housing, and better opportunities for work and income.”

Policies linked to daily life

Measures announced in recent days were presented as part of this approach.

Family related proposals include extended maternity, parental and paternal leave. These include six months of parental leave and additional leave after a child’s first year. The aim is to improve work life balance and personal wellbeing.

Housing measures include interest free loans of up to 25 percent of a property’s value for first time buyers. Stamp duty will also be reduced. These measures are meant to improve access to accommodation.

On income, the government is proposing a €50 weekly increase in pensions over five years. It also plans tax changes on part time and overtime work, and tax exemptions for young people earning up to €30,000.

Work life balance

Abela also referred to measures announced on May 1. These focus on improving quality of work.

He said discussions will begin with social partners. The aim is to introduce a right for employees to request remote work, flexitime or a compressed working week.

Businesses that accept these requests will receive up to €1,000 per employee. The funding can be used for infrastructure and tools to support productivity.

Environment and green spaces

Environmental quality is a key part of the index. Abela said the government is focused on expanding green spaces and public areas.

He said sites such as Manoel Island and White Rocks were returned to the public. These will form part of a network of spaces for families, relaxation and physical activity.

Projects are underway across Malta and Gozo. Others are in planning or tendering stages. Abela said land that was set for development in the 2006 local plan will instead be turned into green spaces.

He mentioned the expansion of Wied Inċita as a natural park. He also referred to Bengħajsa park, which was transformed from a landfill and will be extended. Work will continue at Salina national park.

In Gozo, Victoria Park is planned to become the largest green space on the island. The project is moving towards implementation. Abela said it will turn grey areas into green spaces in the centre of Victoria.

Health and mental health

Abela said the government will cover the cost of therapies for children with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions. He said this will ensure equal access and better opportunities.

He also announced plans for a new mental health hospital within the Mater Dei complex. This will be accompanied by an expansion of the emergency department. Financial approval is expected in the coming days.

He said stigma around mental health must be removed. Mental health should be treated like any other health condition.

A pilot project will offer free mental health check ups. These will be available to different age groups. People will be able to choose their own psychologist, with the cost covered by the government.

IVF expansion

Abela said the government will expand IVF services. He said the Labour Party had fought strongly to introduce and defend these services.

He said around 1,000 births have resulted from IVF in Malta. Measures already taken include free medication, more treatment cycles, higher age limits and genetic testing.

He acknowledged that some couples still need to go abroad. He said the government will expand services further, including wider use of genetic testing for serious and rare conditions.

Youth, education and culture

A youth measure will extend free gym access to include more types of physical activity. The current scheme focuses on traditional gyms but will now include other activities.

In education, Individual Learning Accounts will give each young person €5,000 for further training after finishing their studies.

Study leave will also be introduced for full time workers. It will start at two days per year and increase to up to ten days. The government will cover the cost.

Abela also said free access to Heritage Malta sites will be extended to everyone. He said this will help people better understand the country’s identity and history.

Transparency and accountability

A detailed presentation on the wellbeing index will be published following the press conference.

Abela said the aim is to ensure accountability not only on economic and fiscal results, but on how policies improve people’s lives.

He said the government wants to be judged on how it makes people’s lives easier, better and more fulfilling.

He concluded with saying that this will be achieved by turning people’s aspirations into action.

“Your dream, our project,” he said. “Int Malta.”

Silvio Schembri has spoken about the wellbeing index as a way of rethinking what progress really means for Malta and Gozo. His view is that the country should not focus solely on becoming richer, but on building a better quality of life for its people.

In this sense, success is not measured only by economic growth, but by how fair, clean, strong, modern and human society becomes. He suggests that Malta has the potential to evolve in all of these directions, creating a more balanced and people-centered future.

This thinking forms part of a broader five year plan linked to Malta Vision 2050. Within this vision, a strong economy remains essential, but it is seen as a means to an end. Economic strength should enable wider progress, supporting wellbeing, sustainability and a more just society for everyone.