As May 1 approaches, workers and their conditions temporarily take centre stage. Political parties organise rallies and events, the media runs features on employment, and promises about improved quality of life resurface—if only for a few days. The spotlight is bright but fleeting. Once the celebrations subside, workers’ rights too often return to the back burner, overtaken by other “priorities.”

For many, these rituals have become symbolic at best, disheartening at worst. Beneath the surface of polished speeches and colourful events lies the persistent reality of workers whose experiences are largely invisible to the wider public. Chief among them are third-country nationals—essential yet exploited. They clean, build, care, and deliver, often for wages that barely cover the rent of overcrowded flats. Many face abusive salary deductions, and worrying reports continue to emerge that some employers are bringing foreign workers to Malta not for immediate employment, but to keep them in reserve—ready to replace others at a moment’s notice. This is not job creation. It is human commodification.

There are other deep structural issues that deserve far more than a passing mention once a year. The low fertility rate in Malta—currently around 1, far below the replacement level of 2.1—should set off national alarm bells. And yet, women who temporarily step away from their careers to raise children still suffer long-term penalties. They lose seniority, fall behind in career progression, and face systemic barriers when re-entering the workforce. We mark Workers’ Day with family events, but at this rate, we may have fewer families to invite in the years ahead. It is an irony that should not go unnoticed.

Every Workers’ Day, we hear the familiar refrain: “equal pay for work of equal value.” But for many contractor employees servicing public entities, this remains a distant ideal. Legal Notice 128, introduced with fanfare at the start of the year, was meant to level the playing field. And yet, for all its promise, little has changed on the ground. Equal work continues to yield unequal pay—just with a legal stamp attached.

And let us not forget the long-standing proposal to make union membership mandatory for low-income workers. Designed to protect those most vulnerable to exploitation, this measure has been stuck in limbo for years. If not now—when?

Workers’ Day should not merely be a celebration of past victories. It should be a call to action. A time to reflect honestly on where we’ve fallen short and commit to real, sustained change. It should be a day when the most marginalised workers are given a voice, not only a fleeting mention.

The list of missed targets grows longer with every passing year. Unless that changes, the message we send is clear: workers matter—for one day only.