FORMER prime minister Al-
fred Sant has described the
punitive measures against
non-EU workers as "unjust"
and "ham-fisted", adding they
don't address the root of Mal-
ta's overpopulation concerns.
Sant joins a growing choir of
Labour and left-leaning voices
questioning the effectiveness
and morality of the measures
announced by the finance
minister last week.
Among the measures,
third country nation-
als (TCNs), who do
not have long-term
residency will no
longer benefit from
free public transport
and childcare. Non-
EU workers
with driv-
ing licenc-
es will be
made to pay a new €83 month-
ly fee unless they work as driv-
ers.
The measures also introduce
higher application and re-
newal fees, as well as a €400
infrastructure contribu-
tion that must be paid by
new applicants and TCNs
who are already in Malta
and want to re-
new their resi-
dence.
Responding
to questions
sent by
MaltaToday, Alfred Sant, an
economist by profession, said
"the measures are ham-fisted
because they do not address
the real root of the problem—
management of the demand
for foreign workers—but tar-
get the most vulnerable work-
ers".
"This is unjust," Sant contin-
ued, adding that he believes
the only way demand for for-
eign labour can be curtailed is
through raising its cost.
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WEDNESDAY • 4 NOVEMBER 2026 • ISSUE 1018 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY
EDITORIAL • PAGE 11
WEDNESDAY EDITION
JAMES
DEBONO
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
CONTINUES PAGES 4-5
Repubblika's
proposals to
reform jury
system: 10
takeaways
RULE-OF-LAW NGO Re-
pubblika is arguing against a
knee-jerk abolition of Mal-
ta's jury system following the
controversial acquittals in the
politically charged murder
trial of Daphne Caruana Gal-
izia and the racially motivated
killing of Lassana Cisse.
Instead, it is presenting a
range of possible reforms
in a policy paper entitled
Justice in the Name of the
People, intended to trigger
debate aimed at upgrading
and defending citizen partic-
ipation in the justice system.
Sant: Targeting non-EU workers
won't solve overpopulation
CONTINUES PAGE 2
MATTHEW
FARRUGIA
mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt
Alfred Sant
Prime Minister Robert Abela
said Lufthansa Technik
will open a new hangar in
2027 as part of its plan to
expand operations in Malta.
Abela was delivering his
budget reaction speech in
parliament on Tuesday
SEE PAGE 3
Photo: Daniel Tihn
