The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has warned that rushing into a 4-day work week could have damaging consequences for Malta’s economy, urging political leaders to approach the issue with evidence and analysis rather than populism.

The statement comes in response to a recent proposal by Opposition Leader Alex Borg for Malta to explore a 4-day work week model. While acknowledging that the idea is part of a wider international debate, The Malta Chamber said the discussion must go beyond “brief statements that raise more questions than they answer.”

It said any move toward shorter working weeks must be guided by detailed, objective study to ensure that employers, employees, and the wider economy are protected.

“A shift to a 4-day work week would have significant negative effects in several key areas, including productivity, output, labour costs, and international competitiveness,” the Chamber warned. “Oversimplified statements on such impactful matters have far-reaching dangerous consequences for businesses, employees, and the economy at large.”

The organisation noted that sectors relying on physical presence or high hourly output — such as manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, and care homes — would be especially vulnerable to disruption. With Malta already facing record-low unemployment, high dependence on foreign labour, and lagging productivity growth, the Chamber cautioned that adopting a reduced work week without proper groundwork could “worsen labour shortages and harm national productivity.”

It called for a comprehensive national socio-economic study before any pilot programme or policy shift is introduced, arguing that isolated pilots cannot capture the interconnections between Malta’s different economic sectors.

The Chamber also warned political leaders not to allow the issue to become a campaign soundbite. “Such a sensitive subject should not descend into a populist narrative,” it said. “We need decisions to be taken sensibly rather than based on guesswork. As election frenzy starts building up, political parties should steer away from the traditional populist game of which party or candidate promises the most — ultimately, unsound measures and irresponsible proposals will be borne by taxpayers.”