Author: SME Chamber

Green MT, is a
National Waste Packaging Compliance Scheme authorised by the Malta Environment
and Planning Authority. Its aim is to provide legal compliance to its producers
with the best technology at the lowest of cost.

The legal
obligation of an importer in relation to the above legislation lies with Legal
Notice 277 of 2006. Every importer or local manufacturer who places packaging
waste on the market, the market being Malta or Gozo, is obliged to comply to
the above legislation. There are two ways as to how an importer or a
manufacturer placing packaging waste in the Maltese waste stream can comply,
either by joining an Authorised Scheme or by Self Compliance.

If an importer
joins a Scheme it will be the Scheme that will have the obligation to comply on
his behalf in respect to the legislation. This is done against a related
payment to the Scheme. Should the producer opt for self compliance he is duty
bound to cover his obligation by collecting 60% of his own packaging, using an
authorised handler who complies to Legal Notice 106 of 2007, who in turn
delivers the material to an authorised waste management facility, who then
issues certification of receipt and eventually a final certificate that the
material has been sent to an authorised recycling facility abroad. Self
Compliant members also need an attestation from their auditors that shows a
full audit trail of this procedure.

In Malta, in 2010
there were 766 producers who claimed that they were self complaint. These
producers placed over 15,700 tons of packaging waste on the market.
Collectively these 766 recovered 566 tons of packaging waste from the market,
when their legal obligation was 7850 tons. Less then 8% of producers complied.

In 2011, MEPA
advised that there were now 559 producers who were still declaring self
compliance. The weight of market placement of these producers was not available
as at 7th March 2013.

In 2012, the
National Waste Register shows that the amount of self compliant producers has
decreased to 159 producers. This means either of both of the following
scenarios. Either both existing Authorised Schemes increased their membership
base by 400 or else 400 ‘self declared, self compliant producers' did not renew
their annual registration with MEPA. From the Annual Reports issued by both
Authorised Schemes to MEPA there was nowhere near an increase of 400 member
producers. In fact there were a sizeable number of deregistrations, meaning a
number of producers who instead of renewing informed MEPA that they no longer
place packaging waste on the market. These amounted to around 260.

So the
situation is that these 400 have become free riders on the system, meaning that
whilst those known to MEPA are either Scheme members and paying a Scheme
financially, these 400 are known to MEPA or were known to MEPA and have been
allowed an easy escape channel out of compliance to this legislation.

Importers and
local manufacturers placing packaging waste on the market are reminded that
compliance to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Legislation remains a must.
MEPA had issued a stern warning way back in 2011 stating that every producer is
liable to administrative and other legal proceedings unless the producer
complies. This means that escaping from the system and not paying now to any
Scheme, and not self complying does not mean that an importer or producer can
take it for granted that all is well. The producer continues to shoulder the compliance
liability and MEPA can one day take the related action and they would be made
to face the liabilities.

We say this
with the full responsibility that we are not in favor of any type of
environmental lack of compliance. There needs to be a fair and level playing
field for all producers, as it highly unfair that a number of producers pay the
Schemes or self comply, (although self compliance is only done in reality by an
honest few), whilst other make sure they do nothing about their legal
obligation and in turn continue to destabilize a number of sectors?

A tangible
example, why should importer A who is a Scheme paying member, actually finance
the operation of a Scheme while his competitor B runs havoc, imports from the
EU or any other country and does not self comply to the legislation or become a
Scheme member?

Of course,
these situations are not acceptable, and this is a call to all those who have
their own businesses at heart to make sure that they become Scheme paying
producers as soon as possible or else face the consequences of enforcement, if
they are free riders or even declared as self compliance but produce no
evidence of self compliance.

Some might at
present think that since there is a lack of enforcement, this will never come
into being and as such, they could continue and evade compliance. This is not
the case at all. Once the demerger issue at MEPA is settled, enforcement will
surely be there, and it will be smarter then ever before. This is the correct
way forward as only such actions by the Authorities will lead to a level
playing field. But never think that because enforcement is not on the ball
today, that it will never creep up to you. If you are a producer and you
currently think in this manner, then think twice! In time enforcement will
catch up on you.

GRTU and Green
Mt call on one and all in bona fede to comply to the Environmental Obligations
currently in place in respect to Packaging and Packaging Waste Legislation. Not
doing so now, could mean facing penalties or legal action from the Competent
Authority, today or tomorrow. Sooner or later this will have to be the case if
we want to continue to move on in the direction of the polluter pays principle
and the extended polluter pays principle.

During the
MCESD meeting held with the Prime Minister which discussed the Individual
Investment Programme GRTU President Paul Abela presented GRTU's proposals on
the Scheme:

1. The
property bought should be Eur 500K and not Eur 350K

2.
Investors should spend a period on the island each year

3.
Property should not be sold after 5 years

GRTU
stated publicly that it expected that its proposals would be taken seriously
into consideration.

GRTU Deputy President Philip Fenech had last week actively
participated in a round table discussion organised by the European Parliament
office in Malta, where the main business stakeholders were also represented
together with candidates for the next EP election.

It emerged that the main concerns is that the European Union
puts too much emphasis on supply but not on demand, in terms of jobs, meaning
that as much as it is good for the EU to encourage people to go out and work,
it also needed to push to stimulate demand in the first place, so that
unemployed persons would be absorbed by employers, which it transpires, is not
the case since there do not exist enough businesses to do just that. Another
major concern is that the EU adopts a one-size-fits-all principle, despite the
fact that each Member State has its very own individual challenges.

GRTU expressed its belief that amongst the MEPs elected
should be individuals that really know what it means to be an entrepreneur. "If
we want Europe to really understand SMEs and think like an entrepreneur, we
literally need to have entrepreneurs in the heart of Europe", stated Philip
Fenech. "It is no mean feat to understand what the needs of SMEs are, therefore
having the possibility of electing someone of such background as an MEPs is a
golden opportunity. They know what it means to be an entrepreneur and they
think as entrepreneurs. They will be there to represent SMEs, they will have
the necessary flexibility and the power of decision making".

GRTU reminded however that at no point should MEPs operate
single handedly. It is no easy task to represent SMEs within so many sectors
and their many diversities. GRTU advised that MEPs should stay close to their
stakeholders. They know what t­hey need, they know what helps them and what
harms them, and therefore they must be listened to and consulted.

Mr Fenech also called for MEPs to keep in close contact with
business organisations by systematically consulting them on all policy
decisions affecting SMEs. . They should use their influential positions to
insist that business organisations and SME representatives at EU and national
level should be involved in the design and implementation of legislation and
support programmes. Such intermediary organisations and support entities are
key to assisting SMEs and SMEs turn to them for guidance therefore their
important role should be recognised.

The priorities of GRTU and its members for the upcoming
European Parliament elections include:

–    Fair competition

–    Improvements in the business environment and helping SMEs to
become more competitive

–    Attracting investment and creating employment training measures

–    Easier access to standards

–    Efficient public service

–    Respect of the heterogeneity of SMEs

–    Think Small First.

The round table discussion launched the process that will
lead to the drawing up of a joint manifesto of the expectations of Maltese
businesses for the forthcoming MEP elections.

GRTU is currently working on its own Manifesto that will be
presented later on during this first quarter of the year, closer to the
elections that are to be held on the 24th May 2014.

As part of the
Management Partnership agreement between the Malta-EU Steering and Action
Committee (MEUSAC)
and the European Commission, MEUSAC is currently implementing a project,
entitled, ‘The Economic Recovery: Overcoming the Crisis Together'.

Following the
first three sessions focusing on the Business Sector, Research and Innovation
and Education and Employment, a final half day seminar will be discussing
Energy. The seminar will focus on the Maltese energy sector's present situation
and the national targets Malta has to reach in accordance to the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Details of the event:

Date: Friday,
January 24, 2014

Place: The Waterfront
Hotel, Gżira

Time: 8:30 am –
12:00 pm 

Due to space
limitations, only persons representing the public sector, businesses, civil
society organisations in the environment and energy sectors and social partners
are invited. Further information on the main speakers and the agenda will be available in the
coming days.

Should you be
interested in attending kindly register by sending and email on by not later
than Tuesday January 21, 2014.

The phenomenon
of ageing population among EU Member States including Malta whilst it is an
indication of for instance a sound healthcare system is on the other hand
weighing heavily on public finances in particular through growing expenditure
on health care and European Employment Observatory named Employment policies to
promote active ageing, 2012 written by Dr. Manwel Debono director of the Centre
for Labour Studies (CLS) at the University of Malta, provides a very good
insight about this phenomenon in Malta.

Situation

Malta
registered a 1.2% increase in the number of persons aged 55 years and older
between 2008 and 2010, which is twice the EU average increase over the same
period. Malta's employment rate relating to persons above 55 years of age is
significantly lower when compared to the EU average. Whereas the rates among
55-59 and the 60-64 age groups are 11.6% and 16.3% lower than the EU average.
This gap is more significant among older women where Malta registers the
highest inactivity rate. In 2010 the employment rate of female workers in Malta
falling in the 55-59 age bracket, was 52.1% lower than that of males while the
rate for female workers in the 60-64 age group was so low that it is not
captured by surveys.

The report
makes reference to a qualitative study carried out by the Employment and
Training Corporation (ETC) about the reasons why older men leave the labour
market before the formal retirement age which are quite complex. The main
reasons were related to redundancies, poor working conditions, business
difficulties, poor health, and marital separations.

Moreover early
retirement schemes, financial stability and the fact that relatives no longer
depended on the person's earnings are important ‘pull' factors.

Measures promoting active ageing

The report give
details about which are the policies that promote active ageing. It points out
aspects contained in the labour legislation, such as the last-in first-out
concept and the ‘Temporary Agency Workers Regulations' (2010) which are
advantageous for older workers.

Nevertheless it
also refers to the media publicity campaigns to promote active ageing that were
carried out in recent years that have promoted the qualities of older workers
among employers, and tried to encourage older workers to improve their
employability through lifelong learning. On the other hand the report is
critical towards the application of early retirement schemes as a means of
reducing the deficits of ailing public sector companies such as the relatively
recent case of Airmalta.

Recommendations

Among the
recommendations brought forward by this report one finds:- the need to increase
awareness among employers to employ older workers; more EU funds to assist
older long-term unemployed persons, through empowerment programmes imparting
general employability skills and specific work-related skills in emerging
economic areas; the development of a comprehensive and consistent approach in
dealing with lifelong participation in society needs to be developed and
implemented in which lifelong learning and lifelong career guidance are given
their due attention.

The complete
version of the report can be accessed through the weblink:

http://www.eu-employmentobservatory.net/resources/reviews/Malta-EPPAA-Feb2012-final.pdf

Europort
Romania, a small yet well-known maritime networking event will celebrate its
10th anniversary from 13 – 15 May 2014.

The
event will be held in Constanta and aims to strengthen relationships with the
management of shipyards, sea and river ship owners, marine equipment trading
companies, port managements, salvage companies, navy authorities and marine
designers from Romania and surrounding Black Sea countries.

Romania
has 10 large shipyards involved in both new buildings and repair &
maintenance of a.o. bulk carriers, tankers, container vessels, multi-purpose
ships, inland navigation vessels, tug boats, freighters, patrol boats, LPG
carriers, offshore supply vessels, naval ships and dredgers.

Romania
has kept a vivid maritime industry, even in times of crisis, and largely
depends on imported equipment. This offers good opportunities for international
suppliers in the field of propulsion, automation, deck equipment, integrated
bridge management, hydraulics, navigation and communication, dredging, electrical
systems, ventilation and air conditioning, propellers, pumps etc.

The
event has a maximum capacity for  around
35 companies. Participation includes ready to use stands, ship yard visit, BBQ,
lunches and networking receptions amongst others. Also you can book the package
including hotel and airport transfer.

For more
information about the program and participation packages visit: www.ahoy.nl/digibrochure/europort-romania<http://www.ahoy.nl/digibrochure/eu

The national
minimum wage of part-time employees shall be calculated pro rata at the same
hourly rate of a comparable whole-time employee in accordance with the relevant
Wage Regulation Order (WRO). In cases where a WRO is not applicable, the pro
rata is calculated using the weekly National Minimum Wage applicable for a
comparable whole-time employee, divided by forty.

Minimum Wages for 2014

18 years and
over €165.68

17 years
€158.90

Under 17 years
€156.06

Commissions

The wage
payable to the employee can consist of a commission so long as the minimum
weekly wage is guaranteed and such minimum wage is paid at regular intervals
not exceeding four weeks in arrears.           

Statutory Bonus

The full
statutory bonus payable every six months is as follows:

End of June €
135.10

From the 15th
till the 23rd December € 135.10

When calculating
part of the bonus it can be worked out at €0.74 per calendar day including
Saturdays and Sundays.

Weekly Allowance

The full
statutory Weekly Allowance payable every six months is as follows:

End of March
€121.13

End of
September €121.13

When calculating
part of the weekly allowance it amounts to € 4.66 per working week, or a
proportion thereof.

Cost of Living Increase

The cost of
living increase is obligatory. A full-time employee is entitled to the full
increase, while a part-time employee is entitled to part of the cost of living
increase in proportion to the hours worked.

This is a gentle reminder that the
Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC), together with the Malta
Environment & Planning Authority and the Ministry for Sustainable
Development, the Environment and Climate Change will be organising a
consultation session on the proposed EU directive to reduce the consumption of
plastic bags.

The
consultation session on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging
waste to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags' will focus on the EU's plan to tackle
environmental degradation caused by plastic littering as well as the
inefficient use of this resource. Moreover the session will discuss potential
national reduction targets, in the form of economic instruments or market
restrictions, aimed at reducing the consumption of lightweighet plastic carrier
bags.

The
consultation session will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 2pm, at Europe House,
254, St Paul's Street, Valletta.

Should you be interested in attending but haven't registered yet, kindly apply on

by not later than Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at noon.

There are
discussions currently ongoing in order to address the problem of online returns
because of wrong sizes (on clothes)". 

The
Commission's report of 25 September 2013, concludes that "size labelling is
being addressed by either voluntary schemes or standards" and, thus, do not
need to be addressed in the Textile Regulation. Moreover, based on the findings
of a study on textile labelling, the report mentions that "limited benefits are
expected from a mandatory system as compared with a uniform EU-wide
standard-based system".

However,
a consultant in charge of a study on textile labelling identified the "problem
of online returns because of wrong sizes", with its associated costs which are
supported by both customers (approximately 1/3) and retailers (remaining 2/3).
That study also suggests that an "important benefit from a standard-based
sizing system" would be the "facilitation of online sales of clothing and
textile products and the reduction in returns of items bought online"

As such
it is being assumed that a standard-based size coding system would have the
potential to contribute to possibly minimising the percentage of returns in
on-line sales (due to wrong size) and that ‘virtual fitting' tools (e.g.
scanning facilities/rooms or internet-based techniques) would only partially
cope with this issue. It is the Commission's understanding that reducing
returns would be beneficial to both consumers and retailers/manufacturers.
Furthermore, such a size coding system complementary to product labelling or
marking would contribute to increase customers' confidence and, as a consequence,
the volume of on-line sales of clothing.

If you
have any comments/suggestions, please send your input to by
latest on 27th of January 2014.