The Minister for Home Affairs and Security, Glenn Bedingfield, visited the Asylum Seekers Welfare Agency (AWAS), where he met with the Agency’s staff and saw first-hand the work being done in this area.
During the visit, Minister Bedingfield announced that in the coming months the Government will be announcing a comprehensive reform of immigration law, with the aim of further strengthening the legal framework and processes related to immigration in Malta.
The Minister said that Malta’s economic growth is continuing to attract more foreign workers to the country, a reality that brings with it both opportunities and new challenges that require a responsible response and a legal framework that keeps pace with the times.
“Our country has changed and the realities we live in today are very different from those of the past. We must therefore ensure that our laws reflect today’s reality and give us the tools we need to manage immigration in a more transparent, fair and efficient manner,” said Minister Bedingfield.
He said that part of the reform will be the revision of the Immigration Act, which came into force in 1970. Since then, Malta has undergone significant economic and social transformation, becoming a member of the European Union and entering the Schengen area. All of these changes have had an impact on the field of immigration and on the way our country wants to address this sector.
“We need a framework that moves with the times and reflects the Malta of today. The reform will focus on clearer and more efficient processes, while maintaining the principle that security and order in our country must remain a priority,” the Minister continued.
Minister Bedingfield also stressed the need to, at the same time, strike a balance between security and order and respect for human rights and dignity, particularly for those who truly need protection and assistance.
“Behind every policy and behind every law are people. Therefore, we want a system that is effective, that provides the necessary certainty and that at the same time protects the dignity of every person. This is a balance that we must maintain in every step we take,” said the Minister.
Minister Bedingfield thanked all AWAS workers for their daily work and for the important role they play in the implementation of Government policy in this area.
Photo: MHS
