In the past few months the Prime Minister has repeatedly claimed that due to the growth in the economy, the country will have to invite more foreign workers to keep the economic boom going. A few years back Finance Minister Edward Scicluna noted that the government had not raised the age of statutory retirement because of the contribution to the economy of migrant workers. This is all very positive.
It reflects an economy that is booming. It also shows that, contrary to some malign impressions, most foreign-born people who are in Malta are contributing to the economy and to the well-being of society.
In light of the ideal of the common good, however, everyone has to benefit from this booming situation. Not merely should government and society ensure that everyone has their fair share from the proverbial economic pie, but laws, regulations and practices must exist that ensure the rights and duties of all parties are clearly laid out and guaranteed.
In December, Equality Minister Helena Dalli launched the Migrant Integration Policy and Action Plan. This is a very positive initiative which, if properly carried out, will benefit not merely migrants themselves but also Maltese society at large. The policy will will not merely involve the recognition of rights, but also identification of duties. It will not merely deal with rights and duties, however, but also with aspects that relate to culture and language.
In relation to this integration plan, we take the liberty of making two focused suggestions regarding two groups which are particularly vulnerable and whose situation needs urgent stabilisation.
THP and THPN migrants are foreign-born individuals who are in Malta having been granted humanitarian status. Most of them are from African countries.
On their arrival, they did not qualify as refugees, but there were sufficient grounds to suggest that they could not be sent back to their countries of origin without danger to their lives or their well-being.
The humanitarian status that they were given was temporary and could be renewed on a regular basis. Most immigrants who throughout the years have been given humanitarian status resettled elsewhere.
A few remained, however, establishing relations in various local communities and contributing to these communities and to the country at large in various ways.
Providing these migrants with a more permanent status is not an act of charity. It will make clearer rights and duties and facilitate their integration
Legally, however, their situation is still precarious.
This was evidenced last year when the then Minister for the Interior announced plans that would have removed the protection these immigrants enjoyed, something that put at risk both their economic and personal situations (many have endured immense psychological hardships), and in a lot of cases it could have jeopardised the economic activities of those Maltese with whom members of this particular group of migrants were engaged in various ways.
Very sensibly, the government withdrew these plans.
In relation to Dr Dalli’s recently announced plans, a suggestion we would like to make is to give THP and THPN individuals residing in Malta, all of whom have been here for a number of years, some form of permanent residency.
Providing these migrants with a more permanent status is not an act of charity. It will make clearer rights and duties and facilitate their integration in society to the benefit of everyone.
It will discourage illegal employment, something that creates unfair competition with Maltese workers to the detriment of the latter. It will help them do simple things like cashing a cheque, opening a bank account and organising proper documentation regarding residency.
Such things will help Maltese citizens, like employers, with whom they interact.
Another fragile category are young people who have been living in Malta for years and who are stateless because they do not have Maltese citizenship.
It does not make sense to deny Maltese citizenship to children who were born to parents who have been living here for years and will foreseeably keep residing here.
The fact that these children are stateless not merely creates a lot of bureaucratic and legal difficulties in relation to how and what educational, medical and social provisions that apply to Maltese children ought or ought not to apply to them, but also social and cultural difficulties.
Culturally and socially Malta is (will be) the only society these children know. Most of their friends, relations and commitments will occur in Malta.
Having in place legal frameworks that effectively exclude these Malta-bred young individuals from society will only have harmful effects on their participation in the latter.
We trust that the government will act wisely and conscientiously in relation to the two issues.
Colin Calleja is co-founder of Solidarity with Migrants.