World Day of Social Justice
On World Day of Social Justice, Momentum stands with communities in Malta to emphasise the urgent need for inclusive policies that address persistent social challenges and secure dignity and opportunity for all.
Recent official data from the National Statistics Office of Malta shows that in 2024, around 16.8 per cent of people in Malta were living at risk of poverty, with even higher risk among children and seniors. Around one in four persons below 18 years of age were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. These figures highlight that, despite overall improvements, vulnerability remains widespread across age groups.
While education remains a pathway to opportunity, challenges persist. Reports indicate concerns about learning outcomes in basic numeracy and literacy among some student groups, reflecting gaps in educational quality and equity.
Housing costs continue to strain many households. More than 22 per cent of residents report that housing costs are a heavy burden, and overall, over half of households find housing expenses a burden at least to some degree, limiting disposable income for essentials like food, health and education.
Malta must also present a good, just future for young people. Official figures show that in recent years, thousands of young Maltese have chosen to settle abroad, with about 6,716 young people leaving Malta in 2023 to live elsewhere, averaging nearly 19 per day, and ongoing concern that limited opportunities and rising cost of living are key drivers of this trend.
Natasha Azzopardi, executive member of Momentum, said, ”These realities have direct implications for social cohesion and Malta’s future prosperity. Structural inequalities in income, access to quality education, secure work and affordable housing undermine social mobility and place disproportionate burdens on the most vulnerable.”
“Momentum calls on the Government, civil society, employers and communities to commit to policies that are measured in outcomes, equity and opportunity, ensuring that dignity, fairness and inclusion are not just aspirations but lived realities across Malta.”
Momentum believes that a renewed commitment to social justice must translate into concrete policy action that:
- Raise the minimum wage to €360 per week
- Introduce a tax on the second and additional vacant residential properties. This would mean that a person having 9 rented properties and one vacant one would not be taxed, but if 2 of them are not rented, the second vacant property would be taxed. The revenue should be channelled towards social and affordable housing initiatives
- Introduce a flat 15 per cent income tax rate for graduates and Maltese nationals returning from abroad
- Support employee share ownership schemes to give workers a stake in economic growth
There is hope, you can help!
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