These are the main stories from Malta’s newspapers.
The Times quotes Eurostat figures showing that the minimum wage in Malta falls below the EU average. 22 member states have a minimum wage established, at an average monthly €924. Malta’s minimum is €762.
The Malta Independent speaks to Birdlife Malta after the autumn hunting season ended on January 31. Conservation manager Nick Barbara said that 75 protected birds were found shot over the five months since September, but suspects that many more have been killed.
The Times says that a group of businesses have joined forces to lobby against the land transfer in St George’s Bay to the Corinthia Group. The consortium declared that they are committed to mount a legal challenge and take it o Malta’s and EU institutions.
The Malta Independent says the Equality Ministry is mulling giving the National Commission for the Protection of Equality more powers and a wider remit. A new bill proposes to make the NCPE answerable directly to parliament.
L-Orizzont quotes Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri who said that some banks refuse to take any risk on new business even when this is one of their primary functions. The Parliamentary secretary was reaction to the MFSA’s reform programme announced on Thursday.
In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition spokesperson for Education Clyde Puli who said that a national strategy for education is needed urgently to attract more educators and equip them with professional pedagogical tools.
L-Orizzont speaks to former employees of Astracast who were collecting their personal belonging after the company closed its doors in January. They told the newspaper they felt they were being treated like criminals.
In-Nazzjon reports on a meeting by the PN with representatives from the agricultural sector. PN Leader Adrian Delia said that the Opposition proposed measures to sustain and promote farmers while the government made it clear I the last budget that growers do not contribute anything to the economy.
L-Orizzont follows a story published by Net TV reporting employees at the Central Bank singing pro-Labour Party chants at a Christmas party. The paper says that the footage was intended to deceive and does not relate to the facts.
