🩺 Petition: For Equality, Dignity & Security of Third Country National (TCN) Healthcare Workers in Malta

 

 

 

We are healthcare professionals working across Malta — most of us being Third Country Nationals (TCNs) from non-EU countries who have dedicated years of our lives to caring for patients and strengthening Malta’s healthcare system.

 

We are proud to serve here, and many of us have made Malta our second home. We are deeply grateful to the many Maltese colleagues, neighbours, and families who have welcomed us with warmth and respect.

This petition is not against Malta or its people — but against the silence around the few who discriminate, and the lack of protection for the many of us who serve with loyalty, dignity, and compassion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

💬 The Challenges We Face

 

 

 

Despite our daily contributions, we continue to face:

 

Discrimination and occasional racism in both professional and social settings
Unclear pension rights and no assurance of long-term benefits for years of contributions
Limited access to long-term residency, permanent contracts, or family reunification
Fear of what happens to our families if we fall ill or die while serving abroad
Mental stress and financial pressure, while living far from our loved ones

 

 

Most of us contribute to Malta’s national insurance system for years — yet when we leave or if we pass away, our contributions are lost, with no structured death benefit or fallback for our families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

⚰️ When a TCN Worker Dies — There’s No System

 

 

 

In recent years, several young TCN nurses and carers tragically passed away. Their families received no official support, and the repatriation of their bodies depended solely on donations from friends and the public. This leaves many of us fearful:

If something happens to us, who will ensure our families are not left helpless?

 

 

 

 

 

 

🧭 Awareness and Progress Are Needed

 

 

 

Thanks to recent discussions with our union, MUMN, many of us are just beginning to learn that:

 

TCNs may apply for citizenship by naturalization after 10 years of legal residence — but this is not widely known.
There are also pathways to long-term residency — yet only a small percentage have successfully navigated them due to lack of clarity and guidance.

 

 

We also want to thank MUMN for the positive changes already implemented over the past years — such as the extension of residence card renewals from yearly to three-year terms. These changes help bring much-needed stability to the lives of TCN professionals in Malta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

📢 We Are Calling on MUMN, Parliament, and Healthcare Leadership to:

 

 

 

✅ Publicly condemn racism and discrimination against TCNs

✅ Issue a formal statement (in Parliament and/or the media) acknowledging our concerns

✅ Clarify and guarantee pension rights and death benefit policies for TCNs who have contributed for years

✅ Create official emergency and bereavement support mechanisms for non-EU healthcare staff and their families

✅ Strengthen outreach and transparency around citizenship, residency, and entitlements for long-serving TCNs

 

 

 

 

 

 

❤️ Why This Matters

 

 

 

Because Malta’s healthcare system thrives on unity, not division.

Because every healthcare worker — regardless of their passport — deserves dignity, security, and respect.

 

We love this country. Many of us want to stay, serve, and raise our families here. But we need to know we are not invisible — especially in times of need or tragedy.

 

We believe that most Maltese people stand with us, and we recognize that the voices of racism and exclusion are a minority. But silence enables inequality — and that is why we are speaking up.

 

 

 

 

✊🏽 Let’s build a future where everyone who cares for Malta is cared for in return.

Together, we can make the system stronger — and fairer — for all.