A judge has expressed “disgust” at the way foreign workers are being treated by Maltese authorities, criticising what he described as a system that ignores the human impact of bureaucratic decisions.Reported by MaltaToday, the comments were made by Judge Lawrence Mintoff while ruling on an appeal involving a third-country national whose work permit application had been refused.The case dates back to December 2024, when Identità rejected the application after Jobsplus raised concerns about alleged redundancies and a lack of work at the employer’s company.The worker later challenged the decision through the Immigration Appeals Board (IAB), but the board declared the case null and void, arguing that specific written grievances had not been submitted.In his judgment, Judge Mintoff criticised both Identità and Jobsplus, accusing Identità of relying on objections from Jobsplus without carrying out its own independent verification.He also criticised the Immigration Appeals Board, expressing concern over practices involving applicants collecting negative decisions while police officers wait nearby to seize their passports.The judge said he was disgusted by the treatment of people who travel long distances and invest their savings in the hope of building a better future in Malta, only to encounter administrative barriers and the threat of removal.The Court of Appeal ultimately revoked the decisions taken by both the Immigration Appeals Board and Identità, ordering that the individual be allowed to submit a new application to regularise her status.The ruling is the latest criticism directed at Malta’s immigration appeals system, which has previously faced scrutiny over transparency and procedural safeguards.What do you make of the judge’s comments?•