Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547461
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 NOVEMBER 2026 NEWS THE Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has re- quested an urgent meeting with Health Minister Ian Borg over budget measures targeting third-country nationals (TCNs), warning that they could jeopard- ise Malta's healthcare services. In a statement issued on Tues- day, the union said it would pres- ent a number of proposals for government to consider before the measures are implemented. The MUMN insisted that gov- ernment cannot rely on TCNs to sustain the country's healthcare system while simultaneously in- troducing measures that make working in Malta less financially attractive. The 2027 Budget, presented last week by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, included sev- eral measures affecting TCNs, including the removal of free public transport and increased driving licence fees. The union strongly opposed the measures, raising particular concern over additional finan- cial burdens on foreign nurses. The measures, it said, come at a time when Malta's healthcare sector remains heavily depend- ent on foreign nurses to main- tain essential services. Rather than introducing measures that could discourage foreign work- ers, the MUMN argued that government should instead be working to attract, retain, and support more TCN nurses. "TCNs are not an additional burden on our healthcare sys- tem," the union stressed. "They are an essential part of the work- force that keeps it functioning." The union highlighted that public and private hospitals, Church-run elderly homes, and government nursing homes all rely heavily on TCN workers to provide essential care. Without their contribution, existing staff shortages would become even more difficult to manage, placing additional pres- sure on already overstretched Maltese nurses. It warned that the measures could not only undermine exist- ing healthcare services but also jeopardise plans to open new healthcare facilities. It stressed that TCN nurses do more than fill vacancies, caring for vulnerable patients, support- ing elderly residents, and work- ing alongside Maltese colleagues in demanding environments, of- ten under considerable pressure. "The country cannot afford to jeopardise the availability of an already essential workforce," the union insisted. "Any policy that risks discouraging the nurses must be carefully reconsidered, particularly when the conse- quences could ultimately be felt by patients, elderly residents, and the entire healthcare work- force." The MUMN therefore called on government to reconsider the budget measures and ex- empt TCN nurses employed in the healthcare sector from addi- tional taxation. It also urged government to recognise the importance of foreign healthcare workers and ensure that new policies do not undermine the sustainability of Malta's health and elderly care services. The union concluded by re- affirming its commitment to defending all healthcare work- ers, regardless of nationality, stressing that quality healthcare and elderly care depend on the contribution of the entire work- force. EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt MUMN demands meeting over budget measures targeting TCN nurses The MUMN strongly opposed the budget measures affecting TCN nurses (File Photo) CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 In the days following his budget speech, Finance Min- ister Clyde Caruana gave the impression that the measures were intended to increase the cost of employing non- EU workers through getting employers to cover TCNs' new expenses. However, this is voluntary, and employers may choose not to help their foreign workers cover the new costs. Sant told MaltaToday the likely effect of the measures will be employers and employ- ment agencies telling non-EU workers to cover their own costs. If such workers find it im- possible to cover the costs, Sant believes they can be re- placed with others who will be ready to do so. A growing number of leftist voices Sant is the latest figure asso- ciated with the Labour Party to voice concern about the measures. Last week, the secretary gen- eral of the General Workers' Union, Kevin Camilleri, de- scribed the changes as "purely populist". Camilleri said that "as a socialist and leftist un- ion, I can never agree with the measures against TCNs". Lawyer Andrew Sciberras, the son of the late Labour MP and judge Philip Sciberras, said the measures reinforce the mentality that foreign workers are "products," describing the narrative surrounding TCNs as "dehumanising". Labour-leaning commenta- tor and former trade union- ist Jeremy Camilleri was even less diplomatic in his critique of the measures. Camilleri insisted that they are "totally anti-socialist and anti-left," while noting that the PL is at- tacking the new lower class it created. Nisa Laburisti Secretary and PL Executive Member Jennif- er Tabone told MaltaToday that she is afraid of the divi- sive narrative surrounding the measures, flagging it as a "far- right narrative." Labour and left voices challenge morality of non-EU worker measures Alfred Sant