The Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment, Jonathan Attard, has launched the consultation process for Malta's first National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy for 2027–2031. The announcement was made during a conference entitled “Shaping OHS Together", organised by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA).
The strategy will set national priorities and direction for work in this area over the next five years, with a particular focus on prevention, worker protection, and adapting to emerging challenges in the world of work.
Minister Jonathan Attard said, “Today marks the first public step towards developing Malta's first National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy up to 2031. Through consultation and collaboration with all stakeholders, we will be delivering on an electoral commitment aimed at safeguarding the health of Maltese and Gozitan workers."
OHSA Chief Executive Officer, Josianne Cutajar emphasised the importance of ensuring that the strategy is based on the actual needs of the country and the Maltese labour market, with clear targets and an achievable action plan.
“A national strategy is important because it prioritises the needs of the country and its workers. We need clear and tangible targets that maintain high standards and safeguard workers' well-being. Above all, it is important to have a feasible action plan, built around the resources that the country already has," Dr Cutajar said.
The conference also featured an address by Artur Furtado, Head of Unit, DG Employment C2, within the European Commission, who addressed participants on developments and challenges in occupational health and safety at the European level.
Meanwhile, Mr Silvan Mifsud, Director of Advisory Services at EMCS, delivered a presentation on demographic changes in Malta and their impact on the composition of the labour market. Anthony Casaru, a member of the Board of the European Commission's Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, also intervened, speaking about ongoing strategic discussions at the European level.
During the conference, two panel discussions focused on implementing reforms introduced over the past two years, as well as new challenges and opportunities emerging in the world of work, including those related to technological developments.
The event was attended by various representatives, including officials from the European Commission, the University of Malta, the General Workers' Union, the Malta Employers' Association, and UĦM Voice of the Workers. The conference concluded with an address by OHSA Chairperson, Pierre Fava.
