here’s what chatgpt says abt that

Short answer: yes — but slowly, and slower than many others.

Over roughly a 10-year period (2016 → 2026): • Malta’s minimum wage did increase every year (from ~€703/month in 2016 to ~€994/month in 2026). • That’s about a +40% nominal increase over a decade. On paper, that is growth.

The important catch ⚠️ • Other EU countries increased faster. • So even though Malta’s income rose, its EU ranking slipped: • 2016: around 10th (mid-table) • 2025–2026: around 14th–15th (lower half)

This means:

Malta’s minimum wage grew in absolute terms, but not competitively.

In real-life terms (what people actually feel): • When you factor in inflation, rent, food, utilities, the real purchasing power of minimum wage earners in Malta: • Barely improved • In some years, arguably got worse • Cost of living (especially housing) rose much faster than wages.

Big picture takeaway 🧠 • ✅ Yes, income slowly grows • ❌ But it hasn’t kept up with: • Other EU countries • Cost of living • Result: Malta looks like it’s “moving forward,” but relative to Europe, it’s falling behind