Centre for Labour Studies - University of Malta

Public Lecture & Discussion
“Leadership and Wellbeing at Work”

📆Date: 24th March 2026
📍Venue: IT Services Building, VC101
⏰Time: 16.00 - 17.30
🔗To register for this event click: https://forms.gle/dk5fAZfWEBmteY5y8

“When leaders thrive, their teams, organisations, and regions thrive with them”

Research shows that leader well-being is the number one driver of organisational performance. Thriving leaders create the conditions for healthy, innovative, and resilient workplaces. In an era of rapid labour market transitions, demographic shifts, digital transformations, and rising mental health pressures, organisations need evidence-based frameworks to support people in working, learning, and flourishing sustainably.

Professor Klaske Veth, with expertise rooted in organisational behaviour, leadership, and workplace wellbeing, offers a uniquely comprehensive perspective on how individuals and teams can thrive in an ever‑changing work environment.

In her state‑of‑the‑art presentation, Professor Veth highlights how modern leadership is no longer about control or efficiency alone, but about creating the conditions in which people — including leaders themselves — can stay energised, inspired, and sustainably engaged.

This short introduction will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the current state of wellbeing at work in Malta in comparison to the situation in the Netherlands, and what we can learn from this.

Dr Klaske Veth is Professor of Leadership and Sustainable Work at Hanze University of Applied Sciences. She also has academic responsibility at AOG School of Management for the programmes ‘New Leadership in Organisations’ and ‘HR Strategy & Leadership’. Her research centres on wellbeing at work, self-leadership, and inclusive entrepreneurship, with related interests including HRM, vitality, healthy ageing, (personal) leadership, and social impact. In addition to her research, she teaches in master’s and post-graduate programmes. She has published and presented widely, contributing to academic and professional journals, books, conferences, and practice-oriented events in the Netherlands and internationally.

Dr Luke Fiorini was invited to present CLS research at a recent National Career Guidance Network (NCGN) meeting held at Xara Lodge.

Minimum wage growth remains real and substantial for 2026. Many EU Member States with a statutory or national minimum wage have continued to apply more structural uprates, with the aim of reaching a higher percentage value of actual (average or median) wages.

📄 Read more: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/all/real-growth-in-minimum-wages-in-2026-amid-both-progress-and-pullback-on-member-states-ambitions

Prof. Anna Borg from the Centre for Labour Studies was a panel speaker during a national conference organised by the Malta Employers Association (MEA) on the issue of the Four Day Week and its impact on Business. During the event which was held on the 5th February, Prof. Borg discussed the practical implications of the 4 day week with hilipp Seifert (General Manager, Seifert Systems Ltd); Reuben Debono (CEO, Maypole Group); Adrian Attard (General Manager, Hyatt Regency Malta); Josef Bugeja (Secretary General, GWU); Josef Vella (Secretary General, UHM) and Lucienne Pace Ross (Territory Senior Partner, PWC). The event was moderated by Kevin J Borg ( Director General - Malta Employers).

CLS RSO Krista Bonello Rutter Giappone has been appointed Book Reviews Editor with the Journal of Mediterranean Studies (Mediterranean Institute - University of Malta). The journal establishes a framework for interdisciplinary discussion in the study of Mediterranean societies and cultures.

Lend Me Your Ears - Public Speaking event
The Centre for Labour Studies hosted an event called Lend Me Your Ears. During this event, the students of the Diploma in Gender, Work and Society had the opportunity to present their work as part of the course in which they were trained in public speaking by Prof. Suzanne Piscopo (GDS1004: Introduction to Gender Studies and Public Speaking). The event was held at the Arts Lecture Theatre, University of Malta on the 14th January 2026.

The students' presentations explored a wide range of themes, including gender objectification, gender and technology, violence and disability, domestic violence and empowerment, gender representation in media, hidden abuse, men’s mental health in Malta, and supporting children beyond gender. Prof. Marceline Naudi's remarks concluded the event, which was also attended by Prof. Anna Borg who coordinates the Diploma course.

We congratulate the students for their presentations which contributed to a thoughtful and engaging afternoon.

The Centre for Labour Studies held a seminar on 17 January 2026 at the Corinthia, Attard to discuss Work- Life issues, Flexible Working Arrangements, and Workplace Wellbeing. The seminar concluded a study unit on Work Life issues delivered by Prof. Anna Borg. During the seminar, which was also assessed by Prof Krista Bonello Rutter Giappone, the 4th year Work and HR students who are following the Honours Degree Course in Work and HR with the Centre for Labour Studies at the University of Malta examined key themes from both HR and workers'viewpoints as follows:

Flexible Work Arrangements (HR Manager perspective): Clare Campbell, Andrej Psaila, Brian Mifsud

Mothers of children under 5 (Worker’s perspective): Leanne Darmanin, Lorella Gatt, Celaine Sciortino

Impact of Mental Health Issues on work-life (HR Manager perspective): Lara Zammit, Mark Delicata, Jean Paul Vella

Work-life balance from an employee perspective (parents with more than one child): Diana Baylis, Cecilia (Liaolio) Lu, Kurt Gatt

After the coffee break, a panel discussion explored practical questions around organisational policies, managing requests for flexibility, overcoming challenges, and the future of flexible working. The key guests included
Perignea Axisa (Head of People – Malta at GiG), Ivan Sciriha (Group HR – Paradise Bay Resort), Christine Apap (Senior Manager – People Operations – GO plc).

Students and guests then were invited for lunch to continue the networking.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) at the University of Malta and the Malta Occupational Safety and Health Professional Association (MOSHPA) with the aim of fostering closer cooperation in the field of health and safety education. An initial meeting was thus held between representatives of the CLS and MOSHPA to discuss the scope of the agreement and to outline the way forward.

The CLS delegation included CLS Chair Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, Director Professor Manwel Debono, and Dr Luke Fiorini, coordinator of the Bachelor in Occupational Health and Safety programme. MOSHPA was represented by its President, Mr George Steve Darmanin, together with board members Mr Clinton Cutajar and Mr Kevin Agius.

During the meeting, it was agreed that CLS will assist MOSHPA in the development and delivery of continuing professional development sessions for occupational health and safety practitioners, supporting them in remaining up to date with current practice and encouraging ongoing professional growth.

Happy New Year to our colleagues, students, alumni, board members, partners and friends. Warm wishes from all the staff at the CLS.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a restful holiday season, from all the staff at the CLS.

Bachelor in OHS students recently visited the EasyJet maintenance facilities to gain first-hand insight into health and safety practices in aviation. The CLS would like to thank Mr Brian Bone for generously sharing his time and expertise and to EasyJet Malta for facilitating the visit.

The recent collaboration between the Centre for Labour Studies and the National Skills Council on forecasting skills and competence needs has been reported on the website of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, better known as Cedefop. Cedefop supports EU policy on VET, skills and qualifications by providing evidence, tracking labour-market and skills trends, and helping EU and social partners align training with labour-market needs.

Malta: forecasting skills needs in career guidance Building an evidence baseThe project, Forecasting skills needs of Human Resource and Career Guidance Practitioners in Malta and Training Key Stakeholders, examines how guidance roles are evolving in response to new labour market demands. Career Guidance Practitioners play a central role in supportin...