Picture this: two employees, both Maltese, working side by side in the bustling streets of Valletta. One, a software engineer in a modern office on Republic Street, earns around €35,000 a year. The other, a care worker in a state nursing home on St. Luke’s Street, takes home about €14,000. Both are essential to Malta’s economy, yet their paychecks tell a starkly different story. Welcome to the wage gap in Malta.

Malta’s wage gap is a complex issue, but it’s not unique. Globally, the average woman earns 23% less than a man. In Malta, the gender wage gap stands at 15.6%, according to Eurostat. But it’s not just about gender. It’s about sectors, too. Care work, dominated by women, is undervalued and underpaid. Meanwhile, tech jobs, where men make up 70% of the workforce, are highly remunerated.

Take the software engineer and the care worker. Both need skills, dedication, and empathy. Both contribute to Malta’s well-being. Yet, the engineer’s salary is more than double that of the care worker. Why? Because the market values tech skills more, and care work is largely seen as a ‘women’s job’, devalued and underfunded.

Malta’s wage gap is reflected in its cost of living. According to Numbeo, a cost of living database, Malta ranks 43rd out of 138 countries for its cost of living. Yet, the average monthly net salary is around €1,000. That’s €12,000 a year, barely above the poverty line. For many, especially in low-paying sectors, life in Malta is a struggle.

Walk down Triq San Gwann in Msida, where many students and young professionals live. You’ll see a stark contrast: shiny new apartments next to rundown houses. The wage gap is visible in our streets, in our neighborhoods. It’s a tale of two Maltas.

Malta’s wage gap won’t disappear overnight. But we can start by valuing all work equally. Here’s how:

• Invest in Care Work: Increase funding for care work, improve training, and raise salaries. It’s not just about fairness; it’s about attracting and retaining talent.
• Promote Gender Equality: Encourage more men into care work and more women into tech. Let’s challenge stereotypes and promote equal opportunities.
• Raise the Minimum Wage: Malta’s minimum wage is one of the lowest in Europe. Raising it would lift thousands out of poverty.

Let’s make Malta a place where all work is valued, where all workers are truly equal. Because when we value our care workers as much as our tech engineers, we’ll have a stronger, fairer Malta.

“We’re all in this together. Whether you’re a software engineer or a care worker, we all deserve a fair wage.” – Joseph Muscat, former Prime Minister of Malta