Under the Labour Government, Malta has witnessed a transformation in how workers are protected, valued, and supported. At the heart of this change is the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER), which has become a pillar of fairness and social justice for Malta’s workforce.
In recent years, Labour has introduced a wide range of measures and initiatives to strengthen workers’ rights, ensuring that economic growth is matched by dignity and fairness in the workplace. Among these achievements are:
– Stronger Enforcement Against Abuse – Labour empowered DIER with greater resources to clamp down on abusive employers, ensuring workers receive fair treatment and timely wages.
– Equal Pay for Equal Work – New regulations guarantee that employees doing the same job receive the same pay, closing loopholes that once exploited vulnerable workers.
– Better Work-Life Balance – Through EU-aligned reforms, workers now benefit from enhanced parental leave, carers’ leave, and the right to request flexible working arrangements.
– Improved Health and Safety Standards – Continuous updates to workplace health and safety regulations protect workers’ wellbeing and reduce industrial accidents.
– Protection of Gig Economy Workers – Measures were introduced to ensure platform-based and part-time workers are not exploited under false ‘self-employment’ models.
– Awareness Campaigns and Education – DIER launched nationwide campaigns to educate workers on their rights, empowering them to speak up against injustices.
– Streamlined Dispute Resolution – Labour has invested in DIER’s capacity to resolve industrial disputes efficiently, minimising prolonged uncertainty for both employees and employers.
These measures are not just technical reforms. They reflect Labour’s unwavering belief that every worker deserves respect, fair conditions, and dignity. A nation’s success is measured not only by its GDP, but by how it treats the men and women who build its economy every single day.
The Labour Government’s record proves that social justice and economic growth go hand in hand. By championing workers’ rights, Labour has created a fairer, stronger Malta – where success is shared, and no one is left behind.
