{"id":47659,"date":"2025-04-30T14:58:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T13:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=47659"},"modified":"2025-04-30T14:58:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T13:58:32","slug":"historic-agreement-for-the-agricultural-class-new-recognition-for-workers-in-the-agricultural-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/30\/historic-agreement-for-the-agricultural-class-new-recognition-for-workers-in-the-agricultural-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Agreement for the Agricultural Class: New Recognition for Workers in the Agricultural Sector"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo presided over the signing of a new sectoral agreement with the U\u0126M, which officially recognises the Agricultural Class within the Public Service.<\/p>\n<p>This agreement represents a historic step towards filling the gap that existed, and is clear proof of the Government&#8217;s commitment to giving due value to all those who have dedicated their lives and careers to the development of the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement lays the foundations for a new generation of professionals in the sector, with the creation of a new professional degree. This will provide a clear, fulfilling and long-term career path for individuals with passion and skills in agriculture, a sector that plays a central role in a sustainable society.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday we are giving formal and well-deserved recognition to workers who are essential to the future of the food chain, to our agricultural heritage, and to the rural economy of our islands,\u201d said Minister Refalo.<\/p>\n<p>Employees in the Agricultural Classroom have extensive responsibilities, which include formulating strategies, monitoring compliance with local and European standards, providing technical advice to farmers, and leading research and innovation initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>Among the key measures agreed upon are substantial salary improvements across all grades, along with incentives for professional growth. This will encourage continuous skills development and make the sector more attractive to young people and talented individuals who want to build a career in the public sector.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is not just an agreement on working conditions, but a clear signal that the Government believes that agriculture and its human resources play a fundamental role in creating a resilient and sustainable food system,&#8221; reiterated Minister Refalo, while thanking the U\u0126M for their commitment and constructive dialogue during the negotiations, as well as the Industrial Relations Unit within the People and Standards Division for their support.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Today&#8217;s agreement is more than a document, it is a symbol of change, of justice, and of a future where Gozitan and Maltese agriculture not only remains alive, but flourishes,&#8221; concluded Minister Refalo.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_47659\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"47659\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo presided over the signing of a new sectoral agreement with the U\u0126M, which officially recognises the Agricultural Class within the Public Service. This agreement represents a historic step towards filling the gap that existed, and is clear proof of the Government&#8217;s commitment to giving due value [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_47659\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"47659\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo presided over the signing of a new sectoral agreement with the U\u0126M, which officially recognises the Agricultural Class within the Public Service. This agreement represents a historic step towards filling the gap that existed, and is clear proof of the Government&#8217;s commitment to giving due value&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47661,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47659\/revisions\/47661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}