Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542124
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 19 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS Gozo's only remote work space used more than 2,000 times this year THE government has opened one remote work space in Gozo, located within the Gozo Innova- tion Hub in Xewkija, Prime Min- ister Robert Abela said in Parlia- ment on Monday. Replying to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Chris Said, Abela said the fa- cility can accommodate up to 32 public officers at any one time. The project cost €51,103 to complete. According to the Prime Min- ister, the remote work space has been used more than 2,000 times so far this year. No monthly breakdown of usage was provided in the parliamen- tary reply. Abela said there are current- ly no plans to open additional remote work spaces in Gozo. He explained that advances in technology have changed the way remote work is carried out, with the concept evolving into hot desking that can be done at any time and from any loca- tion. According to the Prime Minister, the remote work space has been used more than 2,000 times so far this year The Gozo Innovation Hub in Xewkija CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The impact of rising rents is being felt most strongly by lo- cal tenants. Many residents re- ly on fixed or modest incomes, particularly those employed in public services, retail, educa- tion and tourism. A rise of more than forty percent in rental costs has placed additional strain on households already facing high- er food, energy and transport expenses. Housing advocates warn that affordability is becoming a crit- ical issue on the island. While wages on Gozo tend to be lower than those on the main island, rental prices are increasing at a comparable rate. This imbal- ance risks pushing lower income tenants out of the private rental market, forcing them to seek al- ternative living arrangements or relocate entirely. The Solidarjeta report high- lights that the rise in rental prices on Gozo mirrors broader national trends but with unique local consequences. The island's limited housing stock means that even small shifts in demand can have a pronounced effect on prices. As more properties are converted into short term rent- als or retained for seasonal use, the number of long-term rental units available to residents con- tinues to shrink. Local councils and community groups have expressed concern about the social impact of these changes. Rising rents threaten the ability of young people to re- main on the island and establish independent households. Fami- lies face increasing difficulty se- curing stable accommodation, while older residents on fixed pensions are particularly vulner- able to displacement. The report also points to the lack of effective rent control measures in the private market. While recent national policies have aimed to introduce regis- tration systems and transparen- cy requirements, critics argue that these measures have not sufficiently addressed affordabil- ity or prevented sharp increases at lease renewal. Landlords, on the other hand, cite rising maintenance costs, inflation and increased demand as factors behind higher rents. Some property owners argue that rental prices on Gozo were historically undervalued and are now adjusting to market con- ditions. However, tenant advo- cates counter that market driven adjustments without safeguards disproportionately harm those with the least financial flexibili- ty. The Solidarjeta findings un- derscore the need for targeted housing policy responses for Gozo. Experts suggest that solu- tions may include expanding affordable housing initiatives, incentivising long term rentals and strengthening tenant pro- tections. Without intervention, the island risks losing residents who form the backbone of its workforce and community life. As rental prices continue to rise, the question facing poli- cymakers is whether Gozo can maintain its identity as a livable island for residents, not only a desirable destination for new- comers. The data from 2022 to 2024 indicates that the housing challenge on Gozo is no longer emerging but firmly established. How it is addressed in the com- ing years will shape the social and economic fabric of the is- land for decades to come. Housing advocates warn affordability is becoming a critical issue on the island The report also points to the lack of effective rent control measures in the private market