The AMAM Vox Pop team went for a walk in Paola and Valletta to find out what people think about irregular migration.
Over the past years, Malta has become a crossroads for immigrants in search of a better life, thanks to its proximity to the Maghreb coasts of Tunisia and Libya. In recent years, the number of foreigners living in Malta has exploded, increasing five-fold in ten years. The massive influx of immigrants has had an impact on the archipelago's total population. The number of inhabitants jumped by 24.6% between 2011 and 2021, the highest growth rate in the European Union.
This demographic growth has had a significant impact on Malta's population, economy, and society, so we wanted to know what people think about it.
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We met many people who gave us their point of view off the record, but only some agreed to be filmed. Contrary to what we might think, almost everyone we interviewed agreed to receive migrants because they have no problem with it.
One of the people we interviewed, a tourist, pointed out that everyone has the right to move to seek a better life. Indeed, he remained flexible and open on this subject.
A Maltese, on the other hand, recommended that all this illegal migration should be more tightly controlled and regulated, by introducing identity checks, notably through criminal records, and making sure that they pay their taxes like everyone else and don't get away with anything, knowing that the benefits paid by the State to these migrants are financed by their taxes.
It would also be necessary for them to conform to the rules and cultures of the country, in which case there's no problem in receiving them, but we shouldn't welcome everyone, no matter how many there are.
For Maltese, cultural integration, respect for the law, and payment of taxes are a must for successful immigration.
How to improve the immigration situation in Malta now?
Now they are here we have to support these newcomers by setting up integration programs to help immigrants adapt to Maltese life by organizing days to educate them on the island's customs and way of life and pay them a pension that allows them to live while accompanying them in their job search.
Start building affordable housing by investing in the construction of affordable housing to meet the growing demand for accommodation for all these new arrivals, without forgetting to build some for the island's inhabitants too.
We have to educate the younger generation to accept people, be open to the world around them, and understand the situation they face, raise awareness among the local population, particularly adults and the elderly, of the benefits of immigration, and promote intercultural understanding between these immigrants and the locals.