Workers’ Day: OHSA strengthens protection through prevention, enforcement, and historic investment
In the week when Malta celebrates Workers’ Day, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) Annual Report for 2025, which has just been published, confirms that the Government’s commitment to protecting workers is not a slogan, but a concrete reality, translated into laws, investment, services, and above all, protected lives.
Workers’ Day is not just a celebration. It is a declaration that workers have the right to work in a safe, healthy, and dignified environment, and to return to their families every day. This right is being safeguarded in a tangible way.
The Chief Executive Officer of OHSA, Dr. Josianne Cutajar, expressed her satisfaction with how the authority has transformed its operations into a more proactive one, including investment in digital systems and increased human resources with stronger competencies.
“This has led to several positive results, where we reached more workplaces and also saw greater compliance with health and safety regulations. Above all, while the number of workers in Malta increased over the past year, the number of workplace accidents continued to decline,” Dr. Cutajar stated.
The Minister for Justice and Reform of the Construction Sector said that over the past year there was not only the implementation of the new OHSA law, but also increased investment in human resources, with a stronger presence of the Authority, including in Gozo, and more inspections in workplaces.
“We also laid the groundwork for this year’s efforts, ensuring national-level training related to health and safety, moving towards a culture of prevention rather than reaction in the world of work,” said Minister Attard.
OHSA reiterates that for it, the worker is not just an economic resource but a citizen with fundamental rights. Occupational health and safety are not a formality, they are a matter of life, dignity, and social justice.
Through new laws, new centres, a new office in Gozo, agreements with various entities, and thousands of preventive inspections, the authority is putting into practice the true meaning of Workers’ Day: that every worker in Malta and Gozo has the right to work safely and return home healthy and unharmed, because for OHSA, “EVERY WORKER COUNTS.”
What emerges from the Annual Report?
Prevention that Protects the Lives of Maltese and Gozitan Workers
Alongside legislative reforms, in 2025 OHSA carried out 23,711 inspections-an increase of nearly tenfold compared to 2023. Around 82% of inspections in general sectors were proactive, meaning they were conducted before an accident occurred. This is at the core of the Government’s philosophy: proactivity rather than reactivity.
Around 80% of inspections were in the construction sector, where workers are exposed to the highest risks. Where enforcement action was required, it was taken, because safety is not a choice but a fundamental right and obligation.
This work was supported by direct investment in the Authority’s talent and resources. By the end of 2025, OHSA’s Technical Section had 38 staff members, an increase of 58% compared to the previous year. This increase gave the Authority a stronger on-site presence, with greater frequency and expertise, ensuring that worker protection is not just on paper but implemented in practice.
Unprecedented Investment in Training
Investment in prevention continued through training and awareness. In 2025, the OHSA Training Centre was inaugurated, strengthening national competence in occupational health and safety.
More Accessible Services
Helpline 138 recorded a 188% increase in calls, while more than 3,400 cases were handled through Customer Care services. This is a strong sign that trust in OHSA is growing and that more workers are becoming aware of their rights.
Greater Presence in Gozo
With the opening of the Gozo office in April 2025, the Government ensured that Gozitan workers benefit from the same protection and services as workers in Malta.
Less Risk, More Responsibility
In 2025, 633 workplace accidents were investigated, including nine fatalities. While every case remains tragic, these figures continue to highlight the importance of prevention, enforcement, and collective responsibility in reducing risks.
At the same time, there is a growing commitment to compliance, with employers adopting better health and safety procedures.
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