VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The government is set to present a comprehensive reform of Malta’s immigration law in the coming months, Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield has announced.
Bedingfield made the announcement during a visit to AWAS, the agency responsible for protecting people seeking asylum.
“Behind every policy and behind every law there are people,” he said, stressing the need to balance an effective immigration system with respect for human dignity.
Bedingfield said the reform would include a revision of the Immigration Act, which came into force in 1970.
He noted that Malta had undergone significant economic and social changes since then, including joining the European Union and becoming part of the Schengen area, developments that have influenced the country’s immigration needs.
The minister said Malta’s economic growth was attracting more foreign workers, creating both opportunities and challenges that required a responsible response.
He argued that the country’s legal framework needed to reflect present-day realities and support more transparent, fair and efficient immigration management.
The proposed reform will focus on clearer and more efficient procedures, while maintaining security and public order as priorities.
Bedingfield also emphasised the importance of protecting human rights, particularly those of people who genuinely require protection and assistance.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
