GWU pushes for shorter working week and twice-yearly COLA payments ahead of the Budget

The General Workers’ Union (GWU) is calling for Malta’s economic growth to deliver more tangible benefits for workers, proposing a series of measures covering working hours, wages, artificial intelligence, energy and housing ahead of the 2027 Budget.

The union’s proposals include piloting a 32-hour working week, changing the timing of Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) payments and introducing a dedicated legal framework for the use of AI in the workplace.

One of the GWU’s headline proposals is a pilot project for a 32-hour working week. The union is calling for a study into the potential effects of shorter working hours on employees’ work-life balance and productivity.

The union is also proposing changes to the COLA mechanism, calling for payments to be distributed twice annually, in January and June. The proposal is intended to allow workers to receive compensation for increases in the cost of living more quickly.

Another key area of the GWU’s proposals is artificial intelligence, as the union is seeking a dedicated legal framework for AI in the workplace, arguing that the increasing use of the technology should be accompanied by safeguards for workers’ rights.

The proposal could become increasingly relevant for businesses as AI tools are integrated into recruitment, administration, customer service, production and other areas of the workplace.

The union is also proposing that energy subsidies remain in place, while a system based more closely on household income and consumption is explored.

Housing affordability is another priority, with the GWU proposing additional measures to help young people and families purchase their first home. The union argues that access to affordable housing is increasingly linked to workers’ financial security and quality of life.

The GWU is also calling for policies aimed at supporting Malta’s ageing population, including stronger community-based services that would allow older people to remain independent and active for longer.