Video: Miguela Xuereb
Archbishop Charles Scicluna has made a heartfelt appeal for empathy towards immigrants in Malta, urging citizens to remember their own history of emigration.
His comments, made during an interview on RTK103’s Għal Kulħadd ma’ Christine Delicata, come at a time of growing racial tensions and controversial government policies targeting foreign workers.
“Remember the Maltese emigrants when we welcome immigrants to Malta,” Archbishop Scicluna said, drawing on his personal experience as the child of immigrants in Canada.
“I was born in Canada to immigrant parents. Our own relatives experienced life in a new country,” remarked the Archbishop, who noted that he was baptised in Toronto.
He also underlined the importance of treating foreign workers with the same respect afforded to Maltese citizens, highlighting that “everyone in Malta has a relative who has gone through the experience of immigration.”
The Archbishop asserted that principles of human dignity should guide and take precedence in decisions regarding migrants in Malta.
This call for compassion stands in stark contrast to the current political climate. The government recently announced a halt on renewals and new applications for work permits for third-country nationals, a move widely seen as a knee-jerk reaction to growing public discontent and the Labour Party’s poor performance in recent local and European elections.
This policy shift comes amid criticism of the government’s economic model, which has relied heavily on foreign labour, particularly in the gig economy. Activist group il-Kollettiv has described the current situation as “modern slavery,” pointing to the exploitation of workers in sectors such as ride-hailing and food delivery.
Moreover, last week Prime Minister Robert Abela faced criticism for suggesting that potential victims of human trafficking should return to their countries of origin, a stance that appears to contradict Malta’s legal obligations.
The current tensions are seen as a direct result of the neoliberal policies pursued by successive Labour governments since 2013. These policies have prioritised economic growth based on the exploitation of foreign workers, leading to what il-Kollettiv describes as an unsustainable strain on the country’s resources.
In his interview, Archbishop Scicluna underlined three key principles for dealing with immigration: clear rules and conditions, a legal basis, and respect for human dignity.
The Archbishop further appealed that if an immigrant commits a crime, it should not reflect on the entire community, emphasising that no worker should receive lower wages solely due to their foreign status.
He commended the unions for advocating on behalf of all workers, both Maltese and foreign, and highlighted the need for greater equality in wages.
You can find the full interview here.
Source: Newsbook.com.mt