Author: SME Chamber

Visit www.blackfridaymalta.eu for the latest Black Friday offers in Malta.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs launched this year’s Black Friday campaign. For this year’s edition, the SME Chamber has once again presented the website www.blackfridaymalta.eu with this year’s offers. This platform is designed to promote businesses’ Black Friday offers while also providing an easy tool for customers to search for deals.

Customers will also have the opportunity to win and benefitting even further, simply by registering on www.blackfridaymalta.eu as over 200 vouchers will be drawn.
This initiative was inaugurated during a press conference addressed by the Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations, and Consumer Rights, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, and MCCAA Director Ms. Grace Stivala.

Paul Abela, President of the SME Chamber, emphasized that Black Friday makes November a crucial month for businesses. He encouraged more businesses to showcase their offers on the new website.

Abigail Mamo, CEO of the Malta Chamber, said that Black Friday has become the most important period for shopping and we make sure that businesses and consumers make the most of it. Shopping in Malta has become very attractive and competitive. When one considers that there is no delivery to pay and the product is obtained within a day or two, this is surely a big advantage. Another important consideration is that should one need to change the product, this is once again sorted within the shortest timeframe, without having to worry about return costs and how to solve more complicated issues with a cross-border dynamic. Black Friday is an occasion of celebration and it should come with the most convenience and peace of mind.

Over 170 businesses are participating in this initiative from over 25 different sectors.

Customers will have the opportunity to search for offers either by category and sector or by the percentage of the discount, with available discounts of up to 70%, including free services.

Businesses can include their offers by creating an account on www.blackfridaymalta.eu.

Employers can streamline workforce management by utilizing the Jobsplus portal in Malta. This online platform allows employers to efficiently manage their employment records, ensuring they are always up-to-date for both new hires and terminations. By maintaining accurate records, employers can comply with regulations and facilitate smoother processes for employees.

Joining the SME Chamber is an opportunity to contribute to a more robust and fair employment landscape in Malta. Supported by the Norway Grant 2014-2021 under the Social Dialogue and Decent Work Programme, this initiative aims to enhance employment practices and foster a collaborative environment between businesses and workers. Together with the SME Chamber, employers can play a vital role in shaping a progressive and sustainable workforce, driving positive change across the nation.

Hiring Third Country Nationals (TCNs) in Malta can be expedited for certain nationalities without the need for a travel visa. Nationals from countries like Colombia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Ukraine, and Peru may benefit from streamlined processes, making recruitment faster and more efficient. Stay informed and proactive with the SME Chamber to capitalize on these opportunities.

Subscribe to the SME Chamber for timely updates on Employment Law in Malta. This campaign is bolstered by the Norway Grant 2014-2021 as part of the Social Dialogue and Decent Work Programme, fostering better employment practices and inclusivity in the workforce. Stay ahead of regulatory changes and explore the potential of engaging skilled talent from diverse backgrounds. Together, let’s navigate the evolving employment landscape with knowledge and innovation.

It’s essential to document contract breaches in writing to protect your rights and ensure clarity in legal matters. Whether it’s a breach of employment contracts, service agreements, or business deals, written documentation strengthens your position and provides a clear record of obligations.

Join us in advocating for Employment Law rights in Malta by becoming a member of the SME Chamber. Supported by the Norway Grant 2014-2021 through the Social Dialogue and Decent Work Programme, our campaign aims to raise awareness and promote fair employment practices.

Take a proactive step towards change and empowerment. Join the SME Chamber to access valuable resources, legal insights, and networking opportunities. Together, let’s foster a more informed and equitable work environment in Malta.

Join us today at https://sme-chamber-mt.odoo.com/register-form. Make a difference and be part of shaping a better future for businesses and workers alike.

The greatest reassurance of this Budget is that the energy subsidy will remain for as long as necessary. This offers basic but very important assurance.

The SME Chamber notes that in the Budget speech there was no emphasis or new incentives on how to SMEs can be strengthened.

Another important topic was the plan to renew the economy and it seems that the Government wants to attract economic growth from high-end sectors. Targeting high-value adding sectors is important. At the same time however we are forgetting the absolute majority of the businesses that contribute towards the Maltese economy.

It is therefore more important to see that our country’s small and medium-sized businesses are incentivised to renew and modernise to be future proof.

The SME Chamber will therefore continue to work to address this gap and give priority to Maltese SMEs.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs earlier today published the results of the SME Barometer (Q3 2023) Survey conducted amongst a total of 423 businesses (50.35% – Micro, 33.80% – Small, 13.95% – Medium and 1.9% – Large.

When asked what are the topmost important issues concerning their businesses, the data reveals the major concerns and challenges faced by businesses in Malta are categorised by the number of employees. In general, and across the board, the most pressing issues across all Business sizes are Employee Shortage (41.10%), Increase in Inflation (30.2%) and Unfair Competition (21.04%).

The primary contributors to business concerns when it comes to the national situation, across all sectors continues to be the lack of good governance (37.10%) and the increase in inflation (32.86%). These challenges have remained consistent from the previous quarter (Q2 2023), affirming their sustained importance and concern.

The Q3 SME Barometer introduced new choices, in particular on the perceived level of corruption (37.35%) and the nation’s overpopulation (27.4%) and concerns on the quality of life (14.89%). These new choices also scored high, which continues to underpin the survey results with the evolving issues highlighted during this quarter.

Abigail Agius Mamo said that ‘The businesses overall sentiment continues to show that Businesses are feeling uncomfortable with the direction they are seeing Malta heading towards (79.90%). This shows that businesses in general are not happy with the direction the country is heading to and a need for change in direction is imminent’.

The data shows that overall businesses’ sentiment continued to shift when compared with Q2, 2023. The change is a significant one, being it of 16% from Q2 to Q3.

Businesses, regardless of their size, are still facing considerable uncertainty when it comes to making investment decisions for the next year (54% – Unsure).

Finally, businesses were asked what the main contributors are leading to inflation, in general, businesses believe that the main factors leading to inflation are mainly due to Employee wage and salary costs (56%). This includes the cost of recruitment, employee turnover and actual salaries.

Misco Director Mr. Lawrence Zammit noted that Employee wage and salary costs cannot be disregarded, and any foreseen increases need to be complimented with an increase in productivity, this is to avoid wage inflation and ensure sustainability.

Mr. Paul Abela said that the country is at cross-roads and it is clear that a change in economic direction is imminently needed. He hopes that next Mondays’ budget will tackle these issues and address them directly.

The SME Barometer survey is a collaborative effort between the SME Chamber and MISCO.

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