With this edition, my tenure as editor-in-charge of Voice of the Workers Weekly comes to an end. Over the past five years, this portal has established itself as a consistent and reliable platform, never missing an issue apart from the customary festive season break. It has been a privilege to oversee a publication that has sought to inform, analyse, and shed light on matters of importance to workers and society alike.

During this time, Voice of the Workers Weekly has reported on stories of national significance. Perhaps the most notable was the case at the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, where over 400 employees discovered missing national insurance contributions amounting to €10 million. This grave issue was ultimately addressed, but only after being brought to light through this portal and subsequently taken up by the wider media. It was a clear demonstration of the impact that persistent and fact-based reporting can achieve.

The portal has also served as a platform for knowledge and research. It has consistently featured inhouse studies conducted by UHM Voice of the Workers, such as the analysis of grocery price increases and long-term property sector inflation. Alongside these, readers have been kept abreast of developments across Europe, drawing on the work of Eurofound in areas such as work-life balance, remote working, and employment conditions. Broader social concerns, such as the rising cost of private healthcare for citizens who are supposed to be benefitting from free public healthcare, were also highlighted to give a fuller picture of the challenges facing society.

Another important role of this portal has been to showcase the events organised throughout the year. These ranged from social initiatives aimed at strengthening community, to specialised gatherings including the annual EZA seminar each November. In doing so, the portal has acted not only as a source of news but also as a medium for dialogue and awareness.

It is worth recalling that Voice of the Workers Weekly began life in 2015 as part of an EU-funded project. Its endurance, however, lies in its ability to remain relevant and credible beyond that initial framework. Today, its legacy is well established, and it will continue to evolve under new stewardship.

As I step aside, I extend my best wishes to my successor. The future of this portal rests in its continued commitment to providing a trusted voice on the issues that matter most.

Property prices might be on the rise but according to the latest data published by the National Statistics Office, there are no signs of a slowdown in the real estate market as the number of promise of sale agreement as well as final deeds are still on the rise. However, the statistics do not specify how many of these transactions involve first-time buyers. Hence, the data might still be concealing a housing affordability problem for young persons.

It transpires that in July 2025, the number of final deeds of sale to 1,266, an increase of 21.8 per cent when compared to July 2024. The value of these deeds totalled €383.1 million, representing an increase of 35.1 per cent when compared to the corresponding value recorded in July 2024.

In July 2025, 1,229 promise of sale agreements relating to residential property were registered, equivalent to an increase of 15.6 per cent over the same period in 2024. Individual potential buyers (households) accounted for 1,099 (or 89.4 per cent) of these agreements, while the rest mainly involved companies.

An interesting observation is that in July the number of final deeds exceed the promise of sale agreements – a trend which was only registered on three occasions in the last two years.

According to the NSO, the highest numbers of final deeds of sale were recorded in San Pawl Il-Baħar (90), Birkirkara (73) and Il-Mosta (67). The sum of agreements recorded in these localities – which are among the largest on the Maltese Islands –  corresponded to 18.2 % of the total.

These figures were roughly reflected in the promise of sale agreements with  San Pawl Il-Baħar (121), Birkirkara (69) and Tas-Sliema (59) topping the list – accounting to 20.3 % of the total.

On the other hand the Western region comprising L-Imdina, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Is-Siġġiewi, Ħ’Attard, Ħal Balzan, Ħad-Dingli, L-Iklin, Ħal Lija, Ir-Rabat and L-Imtarfa accounted to the lowest number of deeds and promise of sales. The second lowest in each category was Gozo.

An analysis which UHM Voice of the Workers carried earlier this year on a sample of property prices advertised in The Times of Malta showed that the average price of a flat rose from €142,000 in 2015 to €326,000 in 2025. This trend was echoed in a comprehensive report published by auditing firm Grant Thornton in collaboration with Dhalia Real Estate Services, which concluded that in just a decade the average price of a property in Malta has more than doubled from €150,000 to €333,000, while rental prices soared by 71%.