Labour migration in Malta : a public policy perspective

Abstract

From 2013-2022 Malta experienced a dramatic growth exceeding 850 per cent of the country’s labour migrant population. The population growth has been attributed to increasing labour demands and a limited local labour market to meet these demands. This growth in population and the ultimately increasing population density has raised various concerns amongst the Maltese policy community which include exploitation of workers, integration challenges, reliance on low-skilled labour and impact on the country’s resources, environment and services. This research focussed on labour migration in Malta within a context shaped by an experience of years of constant growth of the non-EU labour migrant population, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the influence of temporary work agencies, and overseas populist and anti-immigration political trends. Central to this research is the public consultation of the Malta Labour Migration Policy (MLMP) and the prospective policy recommendations contained within its consultation document. The methodology for this study combines primary data collected through structured interviews with key stakeholders including employers' associations, trade unions, diaspora community associations, policy officials, and academics, complemented by news articles and existing academic literature. Through use of thematic analysis in parallel with the components of John Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) which provides the theoretical foundation for this study, a comprehensive model of labour migration in Malta is constructed. Though this model, insight is gained on the means through which these stakeholders influence Maltese labour migration policy. These strategies include formal platforms such as the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), while others draw attention to their respective concerns through the media and local authorities. Moreover, it provides insight into the primary concerns behind the development of Maltese labour migration policy which reflect closely to the concerns of the policy community. These are primarily characterised as concerns over the exploitation of Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) working in Malta and objectives to shift towards attracting more highly skilled workers.