Author: SME Chamber

GRTU has the week written to the Prime Minister following the meetings he held with the GRTU National Executive Counci. Mr Vincent Farrugia GRTU Director General stated that he specifically raised the issue of the importance of retaining the employment generating schemes, specifically the Training Aid Framework (TAF) (€8.9M) and Employment Aid Programme (TAP) (€8 million each). GRTU has learned that these two Schemes that together generated more than 2,000 jobs are now being temporarily withdrawn due to oversubscription. GRTU strongly protests against this decision.

GRTU stresses that this is a very bad message issued at a very difficult period as these Schemes have been very successful in sustaining the level of employment in Malta and have been of particular stimulus to the retaining and expansion of employment in the micro and small business sector. Indeed, our main concern until now has been the excessively delayed system of wage refunds on these schemes to small employers. Unfortunately this delay, which causes cash flow problems to many small businesses, owes its responsibility to OPM itself due to the excessive bureaucratic demands the PPCD has practiced.

GRTU has stressed with the Prime Minister, and consistently with Minister Tonio Fenech, to implement without further delay and with complete banking choice to applicants the MicroGuarantee Scheme. The aim of the Scheme is specifically to further sustain regeneration of a whole cross section of micro, small and medium sized businesses, who with the full support of TAF and EAP will surely create enough jobs to absorb most available unemployed especially youth unemployed and school leavers.

It is important that one Scheme roles over into another Scheme so that no support gaps are created during periods of increased economic pressure coming from the rest of the European Union. The situation in the European Union economies is not getting better. We are seriously concerned that, rather than continuing to sustain important schemes like the TAF and EAP, and implement as fast as possible the MicroGuarantee Scheme, Government at these important economic junction is drastically curtailing its support to small businesses.

We do understand the issue of funding from the European Union's end, however, it is important, even if we had to suffer the use of internal Government funds, that no withholding of support is affected. The second European Semester programme clearly distinguishes between public financing of employment generation scheme and other non-growth supporting schemes. Government should send out a clear message that small enterprises will continue to be supported no matter what.

GRTU has asked the Prime Minister for an urgent round table meeting with all those concerned to decide on this matter as this is too important for our members.

Once again the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) in collaboration with the European Employment Services (EURES) in Malta will be organizing its annual: Jobs and Training Fair. The fair will bring together local and foreign employers who are seeking to recruit new staff within their companies. Training providers are also invited to offer their services to those employees and jobseekers who would like to improve their academic and working skills.

What is the aim of the fair?

The aim of this activity is primarily to provide general information on vacancies and guidance to jobseekers who are looking for employment and/or seeking to further their studies both locally and in other European countries.

Why should you participate?

This is an excellent opportunity for local companies / private recruitment agencies such as yours to be part of this fair which will be visited by over 1000 visitors. As part of the marketing campaign, the fair will be promoted amongst the various local media sectors (TV and radio stations, billboards etc.) as well as through the social network site Facebook.

Who can participate?

• Employers currently seeking to recruit
• Training Providers
• Recruitment Agencies

 

 

Would you like to be part of this fair?

If yes, contact the ETC Fair Co-ordinator Ms Marvic Bugeja on . The exhibition space will be offered to you at no cost and the company will only be expected to provide the necessary promotional material.

Mr Lawrence Zammit will be appointed as Chairman of Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks Limited, while Dr Sue Vella will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Both appointments will take effect as from 12 May 2012.

Mr Zammit is a founding partner of MISCO, the marketing research and HR consulting firm with operations in Malta and Cyprus. He has held a number of public appointments, including past chairman of the Malta Development Corporation. He has also been chairman of the Employment and Training Corporation, Malta international Airport and Air Malta. He was also actively involved in the setting up of Malta  Enterprise.

Dr Sue Vella joined Malta Enterprise as Chief Operations Officer in March 2010.   Prior to joining Malta Enterprise, Dr. Vella was Chief Executive Officer at the Employment and Training Corporation, while also serving as Vice President of the Employment Committee in Brussels and Chair of its technical group.  She has worked in public sector consultancy and in various policy fields, also serving on a number of public sector boards and committees including vocational education, housing, social welfare and pension reform. 

Mr Zammit's and Dr Vella's experience in working with different industrial sectors will ensure that Malta Enterprise continues to build on the positive results achieved over the past years in terms of attracting foreign direct investment to Malta and in supporting the continuous development and growth of Maltese industry and enterprise.

Directive 2000/25/EC is amended by Directive 2011/72/EU. Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions from engines installed in agricultural and forestry tractors. The emission limits applicable in 2010 for type approval of the majority of compression ignition engines, referred to as Stage III A, were to be replaced by the more stringent Stage III B limits, entering into force progressively as from 1 January 2011 with regard to the placing on the market, and from 1 January 2010 as regards the type-approval for those engines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage IV, providing for emission limits more stringent than Stage III B, will enter into force progressively as of 1 January 2013 as regards the type-approval for those engines and as of 1 January 2014 with regard to the placing on the market.

The transition to Stage III B involves a step change in technology requiring significant implementation costs for re-designing the engines and for developing advanced technical solutions. However, the current global financial and economic crisis or any economic downturn should not lead to a lowering of environmental standards. This revision of Directive 2000/25/EC should therefore be considered to be exceptional. Furthermore, investments in environmentally friendly technologies are important for the promotion of future growth, jobs and health security.

Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a flexibility scheme to allow tractor manufacturers to purchase, during a given stage, a limited number of engines that do not comply with emission limits applicable during that stage, but which are approved in accordance with the requirements of the stage immediately preceding the applicable one.

Since 2005, Directive 2000/25/EC has provided for the evaluation of the possible need for additional flexibilities in relation to Stages III B and IV emission limits. In order to provide temporary relief to the industry when moving to the next stage, it is necessary to adapt the conditions for applying the flexibility scheme.

During Stage III B, the number of tractors that are placed on the market and that enter into service should, in each engine category, not exceed 40 % of the number of tractors placed on the market by the tractor manufacturer in that engine category. The alternative option of allowing a fixed number of tractors to be placed on the market and to enter into service under the flexibility scheme should be adapted accordingly.

Manufacturers of tractors falling within the scope of this Directive should benefit from European financial support programmes or any relevant support programmes provided by Member States. Those support programmes may favour projects employing the best available technologies with the highest emission standards.

Directive 2000/25/EC is amended by Directive 2011/87/EU. Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions from engines installed in agricultural and forestry tractors with a view to further safeguarding human health and the environment. Directive 2000/25/EC provided that the emission limits applicable in 2010 for type-approval of the majority of compression ignition engines, referred to as Stage III A, were to be replaced by the more stringent Stage III B limits, entering into force progressively as from 1 January 2010 as regards the type-approval, and from 1 January 2011 with regard to the placing on the market, for those engines. Stage IV, providing for emission limits more stringent than Stage III B, will enter into force progressively as from 1 January 2013 as regards the type-approval for those engines and from 1 January 2014 with regard to the placing on the market.

Article 2(b) of Directive 2004/26/EC which amends Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non- road mobile machinery, provides that the Commission is to consider the available technology, including the cost/benefits, with a view to confirming Stage III B and IV limit values and evaluating the possible need for additional flexibilities, exemptions or later introduction dates for certain types of equipment or engines and taking into account engines installed in non-road mobile machinery used in seasonal applications. Moreover, Article 4(8) of Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a review clause in order to take into account the specificities of tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2.

Directive 97/68/EC was the subject of several technical studies. As a result of those technical studies carried out in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and confirmed by the impact assessment carried out by the Commission, it was established that it is not technically feasible for tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 to meet the requirements of Stages III B and IV by the dates set out in that Directive.

In order to prevent Union legislation from prescribing technical requirements which cannot be met yet and in order to prevent a situation in which tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 can no longer be type- approved and placed on the market or put into service, it is necessary to provide for a transitional period of 3 years, during which tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 may still be type-approved and placed on the market or put into service.

You are kindly being requested to provide your feedback to the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority by e-mail:

The European Union's Eco-Innovation funding call is addressed to organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks. The initiative is intended to overcome those barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe's future eco-innovation successes. Applications from SMEs are particularly encouraged. Around €35 million will be available to fund new projects this year. The Commission will fund up to 50% of the project's eligible costs.

Tuesday 15th May 2012 – 13:00 – 16:00 hrs
Malta Enterprise, Gwardamangia Hill, Pieta (Conference Hall)

Sectors: Recycling materials; Sustainable building products; Food and drink sector; Greens business; and water technologies

Deadline for submission of applications is expected to be in September.

Due to limited seating capacity booking is required by latest 14th May. Booking is to be done by clicking on this link:

http://www.cipmalta.com/events.aspx?eventid=11

EU consumers want to be sure that the products – whether produced in the EU or imported from third-countries – are safe. The good news is that thanks to the increasing effectiveness of the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") dangerous products are detected earlier and more effectively and are more promptly removed from the EU market. This process involves a chain of actions including upstream efforts to design out risks at source, better risk assessment and close co-operation between EU authorities, notably customs, to identify risks at the points of entry.

John Dalli, Commissioner in charge of Health and Consumer Policy, said: "The fact that fewer dangerous items enter the EU market is good news for consumers. But we must remain committed so that we can tackle the challenges of the global supply chain and address any new product safety issues as they emerge. That is why building the system of 'Seamless Surveillance' by strengthening co-operation here in the EU and enhancing co-operation with international partners remains a key priority".

RAPEX : a rapid alert system to keep EU consumers safe

RAPEX has matured significantly since 2004 (when the General Product Safety Directive was transposed into national law). Member States have spent up to 100 million € and employed up to 6000 inspectors to work on product safety enforcement. The 2011 report highlights the achievements:

• earlier detection
• better market surveillance and product safety enforcement by national authorities, including through specific projects;
• better risk assessment by authorities;
• more focus on quality and usefulness of notifications;
• growing co-operation with customs authorities;
• continued network-building and training coordinated by the European Commission.

RAPEX 2011 Report: what about the countries of origin:

Although China remains – with more than half of the RAPEX notifications – the number one country for the number of notifications on products, there has been a decrease from 58% in 2010 to 54% in 2011.

19% (293 notifications) were of European origin. 15% were from other countries. 8% were of unknown origin (compared to 23% in 2004 – decreasing steadily with better identification).

Dangerous products of European origin accounted for 293 notifications (19%), including 44 products of French origin (3%), 43 products of German origin (3%) and 32 products of Italian origin (2%).

Notifying countries – all Member States involved:

All Member States participated in the RAPEX system by detecting and notifying new dangerous products and ensuring appropriate follow-up actions. The most active countries were Spain (189 notifications), Bulgaria (162 notifications), Hungary (155 notifications), Germany (130 notifications), and the United Kingdom (105 notifications). Notifications sent by these countries represent 47% of all notifications on products posing a serious risk sent via the system.

Clothing and textiles, toys and motor vehicles are on the top of the list.

Clothing and textiles were the most frequently notified products (423 notifications concerned suffocation and irritation risk), followed by toys (324 notifications mainly for choking risk), motor vehicles (171 notifications for risk of injury), electrical appliances (153 notifications for risk of electric shock) and cosmetics (104 notifications for chemical risk), which together account for 74% of all notifications on products posing a serious risk in 2011.

What next:

• Build the system of 'Seamless Surveillance';
• Enhance the co-operation with third countries, in particular, bilaterally with China and trilaterally with the US and China (the next trilateral meeting is scheduled for June 2012), and make progress on the co-operation with the US, Canada and Australia on an important work on pooling recall information under the auspices of OECD;
• Finalise proposals for a comprehensive legislative package on product safety and market surveillance;
• Promote greater awareness among businesses of their obligations.

 

The Consumer Affair Council will be meeting on the 16th of May 2012. For this reason we are kindly asking you to bring forward any issues which you wish to be discussed during the said Council. At the moment this Council is drawing out a list of issues which it will be discussing throughout this year. The scope of this council is to advise the Minister regarding measures to be taken for the protection of the Consumer.

Mr Mario Cutajar our representative on the Council will be keeping the GRTU informed of any outcome affecting our members and will be also consulting the GRTU for guidance on issues where the need arises.

I await for your feedback as Mr Cutajar will be representing GRTU's recommendations during the next meeting which is going to be held on the 16th of May 2012.

Kindly forward your suggestions by not later than the 15th of May 2012 on email;

Join the Malta 2012 FP7 ICT Brokerage Event in Malta, to network with research organisations from across Europe. It is an opportunity to learn more about ICT FP7 calls, projects currently under development and opportunities for you to participate.

Pen the date…

The Brokerage Event – organized by the Malta Council of Science and Technology in conjunction with the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport – will be held on the 28th of June 2011 at Villa Bighi, Malta.

The aim of the event is to create potential synergies between participants interested in submitting topics under Pervasive and Trusted Network and Service Infrastructures and Technologies for Digital content and Languages, under last calls of FP7 ICT.

Sending your interest in attending to  . Registration closes on 4^th June 2012.

 

Why did you become an entrepreneur? It has been our family business for over 40 years. How have you come to choose your line of business? It was natural for me to continue in the family business and the fact that there is a constant increase in motor vehicles we opted to expand and invested in a petrol station

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Liverpool – To see a football match and it was a present to my son for his Confirmation.

What is your earliest memory?

When I went for my first holiday in Rome.

If you could chose to be someone famous who would you be and why?

Steven Gerrard – a great footballer and does his utmost for the Liverpool club