Population growth without a plan results in overcrowded apartments, concerns over market – PN

Increasing Malta’s population size without a government plan is leading to foreign workers living in overcrowded accommodation, while the Maltese people are concerned about rent prices and the property market, the PN has said in a statement yesterday.

The PN accused the government of not having a plan for the population increase, and said that this has now been proven through the latest Eurostat statistics showing that “12.8% of foreign workers from outside the EU have to live in overcrowded apartments. This is due to the lack of a long-term plan as to how many foreign workers are needed for the country and the economy.”

This Eurostat report, the PN said, ties in to a Eurobarometer report that revealed the con- cern shown by the Maltese and Gozitan people over the rent and housing prices.

The lack of a population growth plan is also evident through the resulting ‘cheap labour’ situation, the PN said.

The PN said that when in government, it will guarantee that everyone will have a roof over their head.

PL statement

In reaction, the PL said that the Eurobarometer for Malta was very positive, and that the PN had to resort to xenophobic and far right arguments.

“This, in order to keep to the negative style and speak about the challenges the country faces without making any proposals.” The PL said that the PN knows government is already addressing these challenges.