The Malta Chamber cautions against rushed move toward four-day work week

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has warned that introducing a four-day work week without a detailed assessment could harm Malta’s economy, productivity, and competitiveness.

Reacting to a recent proposal by Opposition Leader Alex Borg, the Chamber said that while the idea of shorter work weeks is being discussed internationally, Malta must avoid “brief statements that raise more questions rather than give answers and sustainable solutions.”

It stressed that any such reform requires thorough, evidence-based analysis rather than political soundbites.

According to the Chamber, a shift to a four-day week could have significant implications for productivity, output, labour costs and competitiveness, particularly in sectors dependent on physical presence such as manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare and care homes.

It also pointed to Malta’s economic context: record-low unemployment, reliance on foreign labour and stagnant productivity levels. Ignoring these realities, it warned, could worsen labour shortages and reduce overall output.

The Chamber called for a comprehensive national socio-economic study before any pilot or policy changes are considered. Such research, it said, should assess both short- and long-term effects across all sectors to avoid fragmented or misleading conclusions.

“Such a sensitive subject should not descend into a populist narrative. We need decisions to be taken sensibly rather than based on guess work,” the Chamber said, cautioning political parties against using the topic as an election talking point.

“Ultimately, unsound measures and irresponsible proposals will be borne by taxpayers.”