Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547510
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 NOVEMBER 2026 OPINION The Malta we choose to build: A vision for our future Alex Borg Leader of the Opposition EVERY generation has a re- sponsibility to leave its country stronger than it found it. Ful- filling that duty requires more than popular announcements or promises shaped by an electoral calendar. It requires the courage to make decisions whose bene- fits may be realised long after the next election. Malta cannot afford govern- ment by reaction: problems left to deepen, followed by hurried measures designed to contain the political fallout. We need a national direction that looks ten or twenty years ahead, with clear priorities and the disci- pline to deliver them. Our greatest strength has al- ways been our people: families who persevere, workers who contribute and entrepreneurs who turn ideas into liveli- hoods. Yet their success can- not be measured by GDP alone. It must be reflected in decent wages, attainable homes, relia- ble public services and time to enjoy life. This was the central argu- ment of my response to Budget 2027. The Malta Chamber's analysis indicates that be- tween 2015 and 2025, 69% of economic growth came from additional workers, while only 3% came from productivity im- provements. Government pre- budget figures show productiv- ity growth slowing from 2.2% in 2023 to 0.2% in 2024, before turning negative in 2025. These figures expose the lim- itations of an economy too dependent on expanding its workforce rather than increas- ing the value created through work. Foreign workers have made an enormous contri- bution to Malta. The failure lies not with them, but with policies that encouraged pop- ulation increases without ad- equately preparing housing, transport, energy networks and essential services. Our ambition must be to cre- ate better-paid, higher-value jobs, not simply more jobs. A Nationalist government would set targets to increase Malta's median wage, assessed against European benchmarks and purchasing power. Aver- age pay can rise while many households remain under strain. What matters is what an ordinary wage can actually buy. Higher wages must be under- pinned by stronger produc- tivity. A Nationalist govern- ment would actively support businesses in accelerating investment in their greatest asset: their people. Through targeted training, upskilling and reskilling, we would help transform our workforce in- to a highly skilled, adaptable and future-ready talent pool, equipped to embrace artificial intelligence, automation, ro- botics and digitalisation. Our ambition is to empower em- ployees to create greater value, enable businesses to become more competitive and establish the foundations for sustainable wage growth. At the same time, we would introduce initiatives to attract Maltese profession- als living abroad, bringing their expertise, experience and knowledge back to our econo- my. Migration policy must be just as considered. Malta should re- main a country where people of different nationalities are treat- ed with dignity, included in our communities and respected for their contribution. After years of encouraging international recruitment, government can- not abruptly reverse course and leave employers and employees to absorb the consequences. We propose a dedicated au- thority to identify genuine skills shortages and align recruit- ment with economic needs and infrastructure capacity. Busi- nesses that invest in retaining and training staff should not be penalised by higher costs sim- ply for renewing work permits. Equally, workers must remain free to pursue better pay and conditions. Responsible migra- tion management and respect for human dignity are not com- peting goals. For younger generations, op- portunity must also mean a re- alistic path to homeownership. We would refund first-time buyers 50% of the interest on their home loans for the first ten years, through monthly payments into their bank ac- counts. We would also retain the €1,000 annual bonus. Ef- fective measures should be preserved, regardless of which party introduced them. But no financial measure can compensate for hours lost in traffic, recurring electricity disruptions or overstretched public infrastructure. Malta needs a national climate resil- ience plan, dependable trans- port and energy systems, and sustained investment in edu- cation and healthcare. Gozo deserves a long-term commit- ment to connectivity, services and meaningful employment, rather than attention dictated by electoral cycles. The State must also hold it- self to the standards it expects of businesses: less bureaucra- cy, regulatory certainty and prompt payment for work delivered. Enterprise needs a reliable partner, not another source of uncertainty. We cannot build that future by setting people against one another. Workers and employ- ers, Maltese citizens and for- eign residents, all have a stake in a country that succeeds. Po- litical leadership should unite their efforts, not exploit their differences. Together, We Are Malta is more than a message. It is the principle of a country that plans responsibly, rewards ef- fort and offers every generation a fair chance to succeed. I want a Malta where enter- prise thrives, work is proper- ly rewarded and parents have time to be present for their children. Leadership will not be judged by the applause won today, but by the country we build for to- morrow. I want a Malta where enterprise thrives, work is properly rewarded and parents have time to be present for their children