Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544987
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2026 ELECTION 2026 NEWS Labour publishes its manifesto: Here is the breakdown THE Labour Party on Friday published its electoral manifes- to title Int Malta. The 265-page manifesto is divided in 24 chap- ters covering various aspects of life and governance. Below are some key proposals from the manifesto. AN ECONOMY THAT CREATES WEALTH • Fiscal bonus: Introduction of a €1,000 annual "bonus ta' bżulija" for all workers earning at least the minimum wage. • Bureaucracy reduction: A target to cut administrative "red tape" by 35% using AI and the "once-only" data principle. • Banking rights: Guarantee- ing businesses the legal right to open a basic bank account to fa- cilitate easier operations. • National business wallet: A digital platform where busi- nesses can securely store all licences, permits, and due dili- gence documents. A NEW WORLD OF WORK • Skills registry: Developing a national register to identify local workforce skills and gaps, using AI to reduce reliance on foreign labour. • Wage regulation reform: Eliminating inconsistencies in working conditions and rights across different groups of work- ers. • Future lab: Transforming the National Skills Council into "Malta's Future Lab" to prepare the workforce for technological shifts. • Paid internships: Formal recognition of internships and traineeships in labour law to ensure students and graduates receive fair pay. EDUCATION • Curriculum overhaul: Up- dating the national curriculum to prioritise modern literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. • Individualised support: Daily half-hour sessions for stu- dents struggling with core sub- jects like Maltese, English, or Mathematics. • Early multilingualism: In- troducing a third language at a very young age through play and interactive learning. • Erasmus bonus: Providing an additional €1,000 grant for students participating in Eras- mus+ exchange programmes. YOUR HOME • Family inheritance: Total exemption from stamp duty for children receiving property from parents as a primary res- idence. • Donation threshold: Raising the tax-exempt threshold for non-primary residence prop- erty donations from parents to children to €1,000,000. • Affordable housing loans: Interest-free loans for first-time buyers covering up to 25% of a property's value. • Buyers' charter: Implemen- tation of a new charter to pro- tect property owners and en- sure fair standards in the real estate market. FAMILIES AND WELLBEING • Birth bonus: Increasing the birth bonus to €5,000 per child, with a significant portion paid during pregnancy. • Shared parental leave: In- troducing six months of state- paid parental leave that can be split between parents. • Paternity leave: Doubling paternity leave to a full month. • Expanded maternity leave: Increasing total maternity leave to 26 weeks. SOCIAL PROTECTION & INCLUSION • Poverty reduction: Setting a national goal to lower the risk of poverty to below 16% within five years. • Pension increase: A guaran- teed annual increase of at least €10 per week for all pensioners. • Disability support plans: Personalised "individual sup- port plans" for persons with disabilities, covering costs for independent living. • Vulnerability protection: Gradually increasing asset lim- its (to €30,000 for couples) for eligibility for non-contributory pensions and social assistance. ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE • 10-minute walk rule: A commitment to ensure every citizen is within a 10-minute walk of a green space. • Manoel Island: Returning Manoel Island to the public and changing local plans to prohibit future development. • National water fountains: Partnering with local councils to install drinking water foun- tains in every locality. • Street lighting: Completing a nationwide upgrade to mod- ern, efficient street lighting by 2028 to reduce emissions and energy use. RESILIENT ENERGY • Renewable target: Increas- ing the share of renewable ener- gy by 25% by 2030. • Vehicle-to-grid (V2G): Launching a pilot project allow- ing electric cars to store energy and feed it back into the nation- al grid. • Infrastructure investment: Significant investment in a sec- ond interconnector and large- scale energy storage systems. • Shore-to-ship extension: Expanding clean energy sys- tems for ships at port to reduce coastal pollution. SECURITY & JUSTICE • Migration efficiency: Speeding up the return of indi- viduals not eligible for asylum while maintaining strict control over irregular migration. • Interactive justice: Launch- ing an AI-powered chatbot to provide general legal informa- tion and public access to justice. • Digital courts: Full digiti- sation of court cases through a new management information system. • Judicial academy: Establish- ing a dedicated academy to pro- vide continuous training and education for members of the judiciary. GOVERNANCE & GLOBAL ROLE • Ethics reform: Updating the code of ethics for ministers and MPs to reflect modern trans- parency standards. • Council funding: Giving lo- cal councils direct revenue from tourist eco-contributions and outdoor dining permits. • Youth working holidays: Expanding working holiday agreements beyond Japan to al- low young Maltese to work in more countries globally. • Diplomatic hub: Strength- ening Malta's role as a mediator and host for international mon- itoring centres, such as mari- time sanctions monitoring. KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Prime Minister Robert Abela unveiled the party's manifesto at a Labour Party event on Friday