Prime Minister Robert Abela announced a number of new proposals related to Malta’s voluntary sector should the Labour Party be elected in the upcoming general election.Abela said that in recent months, consultations were held with voluntary organisations to finalise a draft law strengthening the legislative framework of the voluntary sector. The parliamentary process on this bill would begin at the start of the next legislature. The proposed amendments aim to introduce different categories of voluntary organisations, provide tailored support according to their needs, and simplify reporting obligations. This is intended to facilitate their work rather than burden them with excessive bureaucracy.At the same time, the Labour Party proposed for the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations to continue being developed to serve as a one-stop interface for voluntary organisations, reducing the need for repeated submission of documentation to regulators and other entities.The Labour Party also believes there is demand for more organisations to have suitable premises. Abela said that in recent years, efforts have been made to provide voluntary organisations with premises, consolidate their title over government property, and offer lower rental rates.Abela said that work in this direction will continue so that as many voluntary organisations as possible have space from which to operate. Organisations not using government property would receive financial assistance to help cover rental or property purchase costs.Abela went on to promise continuation of assistance with operational costs for voluntary organisations. The utility bill incentive introduced for organisations working in disability and animal welfare would be extended to all voluntary organisations.Organisations using premises would also continue to be supported to install renewable energy facilities, enabling them to eliminate costs entirely.Abela said that the public service currently has a system whereby employees work within voluntary organisations. New arrangements would be introduced so that public service employees may work with voluntary organisations for a number of days rather than full-time. Private companies would also be encouraged to adopt similar arrangements as part of their corporate social responsibility strategies.Strong belief is placed in the value of volunteering abroad and its positive impact on youth development. More young people are to be encouraged to participate in overseas volunteering experiences, and incentives under the Youth Volunteer Overseas scheme will be improved. In addition to travel-related support, the daily allowance for participating youth will increase to €30.NGOs applying for European Union funds incur costs related to applications and project management. Training will be provided to NGOs to reduce consultancy-related expenses. Financial assistance will also be offered to help them access EU funds and implement projects.Another proposal would assist organisations in organising activities that require risk assessments, which also create costs. Volunteers are considered individuals who should be better protected. Basic health and safety training will be introduced to enable them to carry out projects with the necessary knowledge and preparation. Voluntary organisations would also be supported through the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) to carry out risk assessments for large-scale projects.What do you make of this?•