The European Commission has just made public the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of certain prepared or preserved citrus fruits (namely mandarins, etc.) and certain aluminum foil originating in the People’s Republic of China.
The details for the importation of citrus fruits can be accessed through the link below:
Free E-Guide by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has officially launched the e-guide on managing stress and psychosocial risks.
The e-guide has been developed as part of the Health Workplace Manage Stress campaign, which aims to raise awareness on stress and other psychosocial risks that may be present at the place of work. The e-guide that has been also developed in Maltese language, will serve as a practical tool for employers and workers in addressing stress and psychosocial risks. The e-guide provides users with relevant national resources on stress and psychosocial risks and includes explanations, advice and examples on how stress and psychosocial risks can be addressed. Despite the fact that stress and psychosocial risks are considered one of the main concerns for workers’ health and safety, such risks are not being identified and managed in an appropriate manner.
GRTU has had the opportunity to present its priorities for Budget 2015 on numerous occasions at MCESD and directly with a number of Ministers. Unfortunately we received mixed messages on what actually might happen, which leaves us feeling uneasy.
GRTU has put in all the efforts and pressure possible to lobby for what it believes Maltese SMEs are in need of. The only thing that we can do now is wait patiently till next Monday to see whether the message has been delivered and if not decide on the action that needs to be taken.
Unfair Competition
We want to see results and decisive action that addresses the problems we have been strongly highlighting, which have been driving bona fide Maltese enterprises out of business. GRTU is not requesting rash action but it is expecting the Government to take courageous decisions and stand for what it believes in. A year ago Government promised us action in its Budget 2014 speech and so far nothing has materialised.
Removing the Eco-Tax
We want Government to keep its promise of avoiding putting honest businesses at a disadvantage. The status quo will no longer be tolerated. GRTU suggested abolishing the Eco Tax in its totality and in its stead implementing the WEEE Directive, which is an EU Directive very similar in scope to the Eco Tax. The Directive should be implemented in the same way it is implemented in other Member States to ensure a level playing field. It is pertinent to note that Malta has already been given a number of infringements in relation to the WEEE Directive and leaving it on the shelf is no longer an option. The single issue that appears to be holding the Government back from total abolition is the €8 Million that Government derives from this tax.
Cost of finance
Government promised us it would examine the situation, a year ago, and see whether there is room for corrective action. We have so far been failed by our regulators, the MFSA and the MCCAA. Even the regulators seem powerless when it comes to the banks. The regulators are our only hope for justice. GRTU as the prime interested party is not aware what advancements and what results have been extrapolated. A whole year that should have been used to collect and analyse has so far not reaped any results.
Licenses for commercial vehicles
GRTU has called on Government to retract on the increases imposed on licenses of Commercial vehicles. The increase was announced by the previous Government in Budget 2009 and entered into force by the present Government in Budget 2014. Neither Government felt the need to consult the main stakeholders or carry an economic impact assessment to see how increases in commercial licences ranging from 33% to 344% will affect the private sector. GRTU members have reported very negative effects and no one wants to take responsibility.
Il-Green MT illum, 14 ta` Novembru, prezentat kawza ta` libell kontra l-Editur ta’ “L-Orizzont”, fuq l-artiklu malafamanti u libelluz li gie ppublikat mill-istess gazzetta imsemmi “Se jkollhom ihallsu intortament ghal Eko-Kontribuzzjoni”.
Green MT qed izzomm lill-Editur ta’ “L-Orizzont” responsabbli ukoll, apparti mid-dani naxxenti mill-malafama, ghal kull telf finanzjarju li l-kumpanija Green MT jista’ jkollha fil-futur minhabba allegazzjonijiet infondati u informazzjoni skoretta.
Ir-Rapport li nghata lill-MEPA kull tlett xhur u fl-ahhar tas-sena 2012, ma fih l-ebda informazzjoni dwar kemm ipoggu fis-suq skart tal-ippakeggjar membri tal-iskema li huma ezenti mill-Eko Kontribuzzjoni. Ir-Rapport jelenka lammont totali ta’ membri ta’ skema u kemm ipoggu fis-suq kollha flimkien. L-Obbligi ta’ dan ir-rapport jaqaw that l-obbligazzjoni tal-permess tal-operat li jinhareg mill-MEPA taht avviz legali 277 ta’ 2006.
L-Iskop makkjaveljan ta’ dan l-Artiklu huwa intenzjonat biex membri ta’ Green MT li llum ghandhom certifikat provizjonali ta’ ezenzjoni mill-Eko Kontribuzzjoni ghas-sena 2014, u li dalwaqt ser ikollhom japplikaw ghal ezenzjoni ghas-sena 2015 jaqillbu l-Iskema u jmorru ma’ Green Pak. Dan ikun ifisser li Green MT titlef introjtu finanzjarju konsiderevoli u jkollha twaqqaf l-operat taghha.
Jidher fic-car li ghal ragunijiet mhux maghrufa l-Editur ta’ “L-Orizzont” qed jaghti appogg totali lill-Green Pak. Dan mhux l-ewwel Artiklu f’sensiela li ippublikat “L-Orizzont”.
L-Orizzont jidher li qed tahdem bi shih biex jinholoq il-monopolju fis-settur tal-gbir tal-iskart tal-ipakeggjar, billi tibqa` biss il-Green Pak waheda bhala skema awtorizzata f’pajjizna.
According to the Electrical Accessories Regulations (S.L. 427.51), any electrical product placed on the market in Malta should be fitted with an appropriate termination. The domestic electrical system in Malta uses the 3 pin plug system. This means that sockets and plugs need to adhere to the BS 1363 standard.
An electrical product with a non 3 pin plug can either be fitted with a 3 pin plug or else supplied with a proper conversion plug such as those seen in the images below. A conversion plug must be fitted in such a way that a tool is required to remove it. The need for a conversion plug is primarily for safety reasons and to prevent people from suffering electrical shocks when trying to insert a non-3 pin plug into a 3 pin socket outlet whilst also ensuring a fused electrical supply to the appliance.
The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority informs importers and retailers of the duty they have to supply such electrical appliances fitted with a 3 pin plug or suitable adapter before the consumer receives the said product. Consumers should ensure that electrical appliances are fitted with these connections before they receive the product.
For more information, call the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority on 2395 2000.
The Juncker Commission is committed to restoring citizens’ confidence by demonstrating that the EU can deliver for them on the big challenges facing European economies and societies. That starts with setting the right priorities for the 2015 Commission Work Programme.
The preparation of the Work Programme was initiated, with First Vice-President Frans Timmermans launching a process of discussion within the College and with the European Parliament and for the first time the Member States in the Council. Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: ‘People all around the EU are telling us they want change. They want Europe to focus more where it can help solve the big problems: jobs, growth and fairness in our societies. Citizens want Europe to improve their lives, not meddle with them. Businesses want Europe to enhance their competitiveness, not burden them with red tape.
This Commission is committed to a fresh start, with better priority in what we do and a better way of doing it. Our first work programme will concentrate on a limited set of concrete initiatives which can make a positive difference for citizens. And for the first time we will work in dialogue with both the European Parliament and the Member States to build support for our programme, because proposals are only useful if they are adopted, accepted and implemented properly on the ground.’ The Commission Work Programme will translate the ten points of the Political Guidelines, the Juncker Commission’s political contract with the European Parliament, and the European Council’s Strategic Agenda for the Union in Times of Change, into concrete deliverables
GRTU and the Central Bank of Malta are conducting a survey to help us understand how businesses deal with payments and the problems they encounter.
The survey takes only 10 minutes to fill in but your input is VERY important because based on the results GRTU will be working with the central bank to improve any problems you will outline.
The aim of this public consultation is to gather feed-back and ideas on how the Small Business Act for Europe should be revised to continue a strong European policy to support Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in 2015-2020.
This consultation targets SME business organisations, individual SMEs, public authorities, Member States’ authorities and other relevant stakeholders and citizens.
Further information and submission of the consultation can be accessed through the link:
Bulgaria-Svoge:field sports equipment ; contract description: supply and installation of equipment for sport infrastructures in svoge; Deadline for submissions: 10 December 2014; Reference: 2014/S 194-342215
United Kingdom-London: Software package and information systems
contract description:
In the light of technological advancements and recent developments in the area of public debt management, the Commonwealth secretariat has decided to develop a new system to better meet the needs of its membership.
The new System
The new system will be a web-based solution developed using Microsoft.net technologies (e.g. c#, silverlight, etc.)
and will run on Windows platform and support both SQL server and oracle databases. It is expected that the system will support multiple languages (single-byte and multiple-byte languages) mainly English, French and Spanish.
The new system will provide a central repository for several categories of public and publicly guaranteed external and domestic debt covering a wide range of debt instruments from loans to securities.
scope of work: Given that the development of the new system is a major exercise, the Commonwealth secretariat has decided to outsource the development of the system. Subsequent maintenance of the system following warranty will be handled in-house by the Commonwealth secretariat. In summary the scope of work will involve:
Working with the Commonwealth secretariat to develop the system requirements specifications documents based on the business requirements documents provided by the secretariat.
Preparing system design documents (system modules and database) on which the development of the system will be based.
Developing and delivering a tested system to the secretariat for acceptance testing. The source code must be delivered with proper documentation explaining the functions of each module/function.
Providing comprehensive documentation (technical and user manuals) of the system to the secretariat. In addition, the system must allow for on-line, context sensitive help at both screen and field level.
Developing a data migration utility for electronically migrating client data from the existing CS-DRMS to the new system.
Training and transfer of knowledge must be provided to the staff of the secretariat who will provide first line support and carry out updates in-house once the system is delivered; the services of the provider may be enlisted for further development work depending on the nature and size of updates.
Deadline for submissions:
[this is a prior information notice]
Reference: 2014/S 194-342848
United Kingdom-London: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
contract description:
The BBC is currently undertaking a four year change programme to equip the business with a set of advanced analytical tools and capabilities. The aim of the programme is to encourage and facilitate data-driven decision making, to provide a more personalised audience experience.
The BBC is considering the procurement of a tool that will support the BBC to optimise their online content in terms of audience engagement, consumption and interaction (and other associated activities). This tool would be pan-BBC (i.e. across both Public service and commercial) and capable of tracking audience activity on multiple devices and in multiple formats in real-time. The BBC would also require provision of support and maintenance.
The types of roles using this tool would be: Front-page Editors; user Experience and design staff; Features Editors and; Journalists.
As an example, this tool should be able to allow the BBC user to:
view real-time audience engagement metrics, such as scroll depth, on specific stories;
view the real-time performance of stories in terms of engagement and popularity e.g. their ranking on the page and time spent on page;
Easily compare the performance of stories within a domain. I.e. the software should be able to identify index pages as a collection of individual stories;
view real-time data regarding user journeys (internally and externally);
view data about customer loyalty, traffic sources, and recirculation;
view data about device type;
view the effect on audience metrics of page layout/content changes in real-time;
For further information contact Enterprise Europe Network (Malta)
