Author: SME Chamber

Mr Fenech specified that GRTU is all in favour of the
integration of ex-convicts into the world of work as everybody deserves a
second chance. The relationship with the employer in this process however must
also be catered for specifically. It must be transparent, disclosing of the
persons' past and emphasizing on how the person wants to work to be able to
give this person a chance to give a meaningful contribution. He also expressed
GRTU's intention to collaborate as would be required to support the businesses,
the Authorities, the NGOs and the individuals seeking integration.

GRTU has organized an information and
training session in collaboration with the Central Bank of Malta in view of the
introduction of the €10 from the new Europa series of banknotes on 23rd
September.

This new banknote was unveiled
at the very beginning of the year, in January. It will be the second banknote
in the Europa series and, like the €5, will incorporate several new security
features which aim to maintain the trust that 334 million people across the
euro area have in their money.

The banknotes of the Europa
series are being introduced gradually over several years. The €5 was introduced
in May 2013 and during the coming years the remaining denominations of the
Europa series will also be issued.     

Participants were also given
samples of the new €10 Banknote and trained on the new security features. While
the new €10 resembles the one first issued in 2002, it has been given a fresh
look and has several new and enhanced security features. Like the first series of
euro banknotes, the new €10 banknote will be very easy to check manually and
visually, using the "feel, look and tilt" method. In addition to the portrait
of Europa in the hologram and the watermark, the notes include an emerald
number, which changes colour from emerald green to deep blue when tilted. The
€5 and €10 banknotes of the Europa series are more durable as they have a
protective coating. This means that the banknotes will need to be replaced less
frequently, thus lowering costs and reducing the impact on the environment.

In the new Europa series one can
also find little Malta which has been included in the map on the banknote as
well as ‘BĊE' written in Maltese fonts for Bank Ċentrali Ewropew.

The Eurosystem is taking steps
to support the adaptation of cash-handling machines and authentication devices
by the September launch date. Owners of such equipment are advised to contact
their suppliers or manufacturers as soon as possible in order to get ready for
the new €10 note.

The Central Bank of Malta
offered to provide direct training to the staff of companies that would like to
learn how to recognize counterfeits especially for employees that do not have
easy access to machines such as drivers that work outside the premises.

One of the clarifications
following the meeting is that the detector pens work on ES 1 and ES 2 notes
equally. The pens contain a solution of iodine which shows a brownish colour
when reacting with starch. Unlike banknote paper almost all commercially
available papers contain starch. That is why counterfeits usually show the said
colour reaction. The coating on the ES 2 banknotes has no influence on the
test.

MIP has today issued a notice that it was extending the
deadline of the Expression of interest (EOI) for the installation of
Photovoltaic Panels on factory roofs in Industrial Parks in Malta and Gozo and
stating that it was awaiting a ruling from the State Aid Monitoring Board. No
further clarifications in relation to the questions made during the
clarification meeting or the meeting held last week between GRTU and MIP were
given.

GRTU immediately expressed its clear concerns on the
EOI with MIP and last week met MIP CEO Joshua Zammit and emphasized that much
more clarification was needed in relation to this EOI. The project requires
some necessary changes as currently no serious bid could be made with the
current state of this EOI and without the necessary information. GRTU's
members, the majority of the sector, all said that if one should adhere to the
conditions of the tender and EU regulations vis-a-vis asbestos and other OHSA
regulations, they could not consider this EOI both in their own merit, as consortia
or even if they involved their foreign partners and mother companies. This
because of very valid reasons which GRTU explained in detail and therefore GRTU
on behalf of its members would have every reason to question any successful bid
at this stage. In its current state fulfilling the requirements of the EOI
without knowing the rate of return, soundness of roofs, other expenses involved
and basic details such as who will own the PV's at the end of the contract,
simply does not make sense.

Well aware of the limitations of the area available
for these kinds of projects GRTU feels that giving Maltese enterprises the
chance to participate is very important. GRTU wants to make sure they do not
lose out on this golden opportunity for other reasons that are beyond our
members' control, such as size of company or past experience that Maltese
companies could not have because of the size of the market. GRTU has already
given MIP suggestions of how this can be worked out.

GRTU's words are backed by its members, the experts in
this sector. Such expertise should not be taken for granted and that is why we
constantly urge the Authorities to effectively involve GRTU and its members
during the drafting phase of such projects so that we avoid these kinds of
situations. Just recently a scheme launched by Malta Enterprise had to be
retreated because of poor consultation and planning and as GRTU we can recall
countless other schemes that concerned this sector which were also evidently
planned by people who did not have enough knowledge of this sector. GRTU has
success stories to tell, one clear example of this are the schemes managed by
MRA. The only people that deserve merit for these successes are our members for
their continuous feedback and goodwill from the authorities and their
employees. There is nothing reasonable that could hinder MIP from following
suit. The expertise we have in our industry is valuable and should be utilized
in the best way possible for the benefit of MIP itself, the tenants, installers
and their employees and the country as a whole. GRTU would be more than happy
to help and avoid the wastage of a great deal of time and money for all parties
involved.

The Employment and Training
Corporation (ETC) and Identity Malta wish to announce the establishment of a
one-stop-shop application service for the majority of Third-Country Nationals
(TCNs) wishing to reside in Malta for the purpose of work.  This service will commence on the 21^st July 2014.

A single simplified
procedure, for TCNs, excluding those who fall within the categories listed
below, will require the submission by the individual of only one application to
the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs at Evans Building, St
Elmo Place, Valletta.

This means that employers
do not need to submit any applications for their prospective TCN
employees.  Applications need to be
submitted by the prospective employees themselves. However, employers must previously
endorse the application.

Does
this procedure apply to all TCNs?

The single application
procedure will be available to all TCNs other than those who fall within the
following categories:

TCNs who are awaiting or have been granted
temporary protection and beneficiaries of either international or national
protection.

TCNs who have long-term resident status.

TCNs who are self-employed workers.

TCNs who are students recognized under the
Students Regulations (Legal Notice 29 of 2008).

TCNs working in Malta for up to 6 months only.

TCNs working in Malta on the basis of a visa.

Posted TCN workers and intra-corporate
transferees.

The above will continue to
require the two separate procedures at ETC and Citizenship, as per current
regulations.

Further
information?

Procedures applicable to
individual cases are available on www.mhas.gov.mt (‘MHAS
Services' – ‘Residence') or by contacting the Department for Citizenship and
Expatriate Affairs on 2590 4800 or by email on .

The Commission
has launched a consultation focusing on possible improvements of the EU Merger
Regulation contained in the White Paper "towards more effective merger
control". The proposals in particular include:

A light and tailor-made review of
those acquisitions of non-controlling minority shareholdings which could harm
competition.

Making case referrals between Member
States and the Commission more business-friendly and effective.

Making procedures simpler.

Fostering coherence and convergence.

To include your input or for further
information on the consultation, visit: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2014_merger_control/index_en.html

The European Commission is set to adopt a communication encouraging
Member States to look for ways to improve protection of small food producers
and retailers against the unfair practices of their sometimes much stronger
trading partners.

ETC is currently running a Training Subsidy Scheme (TSS). The
scheme offers assistance in the form of a training grant to aid participants
with costs relating to training. 

The scheme is open for any Training Programme as long
as the following criteria are met:

Training Programme is not offered by ETC

Training
Programme leads to a valid certification as recognised by the Malta
Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC)

Institution
delivering the training has to be licensed by the NCFHE.

The grant will cover 75% of training cost not exceeding Euro
1000

This scheme is eligible to:

Self employed
individuals

Individuals in
full-time employment in Micro Enterprise (organisations employing 10 people or
less).

Individuals over
40 years irrespective of their employment status

Unemployed
individuals registering for work

Individuals
earning less than €10,000 (Gross) per year.

Individuals
employed with Local councils or NGOs

Individuals
employed in vulnerable sectors.

For further information
visit, TSS link:

http://etc.gov.mt/Page/90/tss.aspx

Jean-Claude Juncker has been elected President of the European Commission
by a strong majority of 422 votes in the European Parliament plenary session.

After being proposed as candidate for
Commission President by the European Council on 27 June 2014, Jean-Claude
Juncker needed a majority of 376 votes in the European Parliament.

According to Jean-Claude Juncker during his presidency he will focus on ten policy
areas. The areas on the agenda focus on:

1. A new boost for jobs, growth and investment

2. A connected digital single market

3. A resilient energy union with a forward-looking climate change policy

4. A deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base

5. A deeper and fairer economic and monetary union

6. A reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the U.S

7. An area of justice and fundamental rights based on mutual trust

8. Towards a new policy on migration

9. A stronger global actor

10. A union of democratic change

Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) in collaboration
with the European Employment Services (EURES) in Malta is organising an
information session for Maltese employers.

This session aims to inform business owners about the
different services the ETC and EURES can provide in order to help your growing
business.  The topics
covered will include:

ETC Employers' Services

EURES Employers' Services

Sheltered Employment Training (ESF
3.113)

Man Power Records – Online Submission
of ETC Forms

Employment Licence Processes

ETC Training – Design and Quality
Assurance

The business breakfast will be held on Wednesday 23^rd July between 8.00am and
12.00pm at the Golden
Tulip Vivaldi Hotel, St Julian's.

If you wish to attend you are kindly requested to register by
sending an email on or by calling
on freephone 8007 6505 during office
hours by not later than Friday 18^th July.    A full programme will be sent upon confirmation
of attendance.