VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A comprehensive reform of Malta’s immigration laws is expected to be presented in Parliament by February at the latest, Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield has said.
Bedingfield said the government plans to consolidate fragmented immigration legislation into a single Immigration Act, replacing the main law dating back to 1974.
He stressed that migrants arriving irregularly retain the right to seek asylum and benefit from legal protection. However, he encouraged them to apply for single permits, arguing that Malta and other European countries need foreign workers.
Bedingfield also called for greater European investment in migrants’ countries of origin to create employment opportunities and reduce the need to migrate.
He attributed the decline in boat arrivals partly to cooperation with neighbouring countries and rejected allegations that Malta ignores distress calls.
However, he expressed doubts about certain NGO operations, questioning whether some vessels take aboard people who are genuinely in distress.
Regarding employment permits, Bedingfield clarified that third-country nationals who lose or change jobs do not automatically face deportation but risk having their permits withdrawn if they fail to regularise their status.
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(ITALPRESS).
