Scotland to trial four-day work week

Sep 1 2021

Scotland is going be trying out a four-day work week without loss of pay. This comes just as among proposals for Malta’s 2022 budget the same concept was put forth for consideration for our island. The reduced hours will not have to be taken weekly and could be targeted at particular groups such as parents. This scheme sounds great for employees, with around 80% of the population preferring this over the traditional 5-days.

A report out today includes some ideas for how this 4-day work week could be taken on, with Iceland and New Zealand taken on for inspiration. However, accompanied with the 4-day work week needs to be accompanied by other measures which make workers feel valued. This includes high-quality management, flexibility, autonomy and trust on the work place. The reduced hours could be used to boost training or bundled into sabbatical breaks from work. It remains to be seen if Malta follows in these footsteps…

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Photo Source: CNN,, The Conversation

Pope Francis could visit Malta in November 2021

Sep 1 2021

Despite there being no confirmed dates yet, Pope Francis might be visiting the Maltese islands at the end of November. Sources close to those arranging the Pope’s trip spoke anonymously and stated that the Vatican has not confirmed any dates. It is also unclear whether the visit to Malta will be combined with trips to Cyprus which, according to the Cypriot government, would happen in December.

The Cyprus trip is expected for the 2nd and 3rd of the last month of the year, but Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni did not confirm or deny the Cyprus trip. The Pope was expected to visit Malta in May last year but plans were postponed due to COVID-19. With a stopover in Gozo included in the trip, Pope Francis would be the third Roman Catholic pontiff to visit Malta after St John Paul II and pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

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Photo Source: The Telegraph, comece.eu

76 COVID-19 cases registered with 49 recoveries

Sep 1 2021

Malta has registered 76 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours from 4,043 swab tests, while 49 patients have recovered. No deaths were registered in the past 24 hours. This information was announced by the official Facebook page of Malta’s Ministry for Health.

As of Tuesday 31st August 2021, 797,017 vaccine doses were administered of which 413,985 were 1st doses. 412,767 people are currently fully vaccinated.

To date, Malta has registered 36,247 COVID-19 cases in total, of which: 34,727 have recovered, 441 died and 683 are still active.

Mater Dei Hospital is currently treating a total of 31 COVID-19 positive patients, 2 of whom are in the ITU.

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‘New Hope’ scheme launched to help cancer survivors reach their housing and insurance goals

Sep 1 2021

Addressing a press conference, Minister for Social Housing Roderick Galdes and Prime Minister Robert Abela announced the ‘New Hope’ scheme. This scheme will help people who survived diseases such as cancer overcome social and economical limitations previously imposed upon them when it comes to buying houses or apply for a bank loan.Despite overcoming the illness and having the same economical issues as others, such persons could not previously buy life insurance due to the previous laws in place.

This scheme will release stress off of banks as well as bringing dignity to all as where the bank institutions cannot provide such insurance, the government will step in to help. This insurance will include a €250,000 loan from banks which the government will use to help people who work and lead normal lives and yet find such challenges. The Prime Minister said that this will help people of all lifestyles achieve their aspirations in life with dignity and hope.

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Photo Source: Roderick Galdes FB, Pinergy