Author: SME Chamber

Il-Malta-EU Steering & Action Committee (MEUSAC) flimkien mal-Ministeru għat-Turiżmu, il-Kultura, u l-Ambjent se jorganizza laqgħa ta' konsultazzjoni dwar il-White Paper għall-prevenzjoni, it-tnaqqis u l-kontroll tal-ħsejjes. Din il-White Paper tevalwa kull xorta ta' ħsejjes li bħalissa huma regolati permezz ta' liġijiet differenti. Dan jinkludi, fost l-oħrajn, ħsejjes minn trasport bl-art, bil-baħar u bl-ajru, ħsejjes mill-kostruzzjoni u attivitajiet industrijali, storbju fuq il-post tax-xogħol, minn postijiet ta' divertiment u minn avvenimenti ta' darba bħalma huma kunċerti.

Il-hsejjes, meta huma qawwijin jsiru storbju u dawn jistghu jkunu ta` periklu ghas sahha, kwistjoni ta sigurta' fuq il-post tax-xoghol u inkonvenjent. Barra minn hekk jista` jkollhom effett negattiv fuq l-ambjent. Madwar terz tas-sottomissjonijiet li saru fil-process ta konsultazzjoni ghat-tfassil tal-Politika Nazzjonali tal-Ambjent semmew l-istorbju bhala fattur ambjentali importanti. L-istorbju huwa kkawzat minn diversi fatturi fosthom it-traffiku, l-attivita industrijali, l-attivita ta kostruzzjoni, il-postijiet ta divertiment, l-ajruplani, l-apparat domestiku u kummercjali u l-attivita minn festi u attivitajiet tradizzjonali kif ukoll minn nhar pirotekniku (fireworks).

L-istorbju eccessiv ghandu effett ukoll fuq is-sahha tal-bniedem u allura fuq il-kwalita tal-hajja taghna, jista jinterferrixxi b'rabta ma mizuri ta sahha u sigurta fuq il-post tax-xoghol u johloq inkonvenjent. Jaffetwa wkoll l-istat ta l-ambjent taghna, partikolarment is-sahha tal-bijodiversita u eko sistemi. Tabilhaqq storbju eccessiv huwa forma ta 'tniggis ambjentali, u ghandha tkun trattata bhala tali. Dan huwa ghalhekk sinjal li dan il-fatt jehtieg li jigi indirizzat permezz ta tfassil ta policies, ligijiet, infruzar u aktar edukazzjoni.

L-għan ta' din il-‘White Paper' huwa li tippreżenta r-riżultati mill-valutazzjoni li sar f'isem il-Ministeru għat-Turizmu, Kultura u l-Ambjent bil-għan li ssir analiżi talaspetti istituzzjonali, regolatorji u legali marbuta mal-kontroll ta forom varji ta' ħoss. L-għan ta' din l-White Paper huwa li tistimola dibattitu pubbliku u li jiġu esplorati firxa ta' għażliet strateġiċi biex b'hekk jittejjeb il-qafas istituzzjonali u legali ta' pajjiżna.

Il-laqgħa ser issir bil-Malti nhar l-Erbgħa, 28 ta' Marzu 2012, fit-3.00 p.m., f'Dar il-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi, il-Belt Valletta. 

Biex tirreġistra ikteb lil .

Why did you become an entrepreneur? I used to be employed, I took quite a bit of time to start my own business. I started from nothing and many people discouraged me but I proved successful.

How have you come to chose your line of business?

My line of business has in reality always been my hobby since I was a nine year old boy. It is something I think I know how to do and best of all enjoy doing.

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Paris. The thing that impressed me most having a direct interest in art was Les Invalid, Napoleon's tomb and museum. I was also impressed by the beauty of the city.

What is your earliest memory?

My father was carrying me on his shoulders, I was 3 years old, when my younger sister was born. We were in front of the entrance to the hospital and I remember him telling me "look there's your mother with the baby girt, wave at her"

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

Julius Ceaser as whatever he put in mind to do, no matter the immense odds he faced, he managed to do. He is a person I admire and I wish I had more of his trait.

 

The topic will be the Executive Training Programme and EU Gateway Programme designed to assist companies who wish to do business with the Japanese and South Korean markets.  These are markets which have great potential but are somewhat difficult to access due to logistics and cultural differences.

The Executive Training Programme provides up to 45-week training course in Japan or Korea, including an internship in a local company that will enhance your business prospects in these countries.

The EU Gateway Programme organises and funds Business Missions in high technology and design sectors for European companies to develop their business in Japan and Korea by offering financial and logistical support, strategic preparation and a tailored search for business contacts.

Date:               11^th April 2012 at 0830hrs

Venue:            Le Meridien Hotel, St. Julians

The Info session shall be delivered by Mr. Alvaro Biel Turon of the Madrid Office in charge of said programmes.

Further information about the programmes may be accessed here:

http://www.eu-gateway.eu/go.php?nID=22&page=Home

http://www.euetp.eu/

Interested parties are to contact the Enterprise Europe Network Unit on or tel: 25423418

 

 

Malta Enterprise is inviting businesses wishing to explore business opportunities in Italy to participate in an Investment and Trade Promotion delegation to Milan, between the 21^st and 24^th of May, 2012.

Companies from the following sectors are encouraged to apply: mechanical and precision engineering, ICT and electronics, alternative energy, financial and professional services, education and training, and MICE.

Eligible enterprises include:

1. Manufacturers
2. Service providers
3. Licensing and Franchising
4. Companies seeking joint ventures and strategic alliances
5. Technology Transfer
6. Companies seeking R&D opportunities

 

 

 

Companies seeking to import finished products are NOT eligible.

As part of its assistance Malta Enterprise will endeavour to set-up one-to-one meetings for participants through its institutional networks. Malta Enterprise will also refund eligible participants up to 60% of flight costs and a per diem allowance. Refund is for one representative per participating company

Application forms together with a €250 deposit should be sent to us by not later than Wednesday  28^th March, 2012. This deposit will be fully refunded together with the financial assistance referred to above after the event. In cases where a company cancels its participation, any cancellation costs incurred by Malta Enterprise on behalf of the company will be deducted from this deposit.

 

Should you require further details contact Abigail @ GRTU.

Green MT has applied for a permit to operate a Batteries and Accumulators Compliance Scheme. Importers (Producers) are invited to attend this important meeting.

A meeting is being organized on:

 Date: Thursday, 22nd March 2012

Time: 3.00pm

Place: GRTU Offices,

Exchange Building, Republic Str.,

Valletta

Subject  Batteries and Accumulators Scheme

GRTU President Paul Abela wrote to all elected Mayors congratulating them on their election and the election of the other councillors.As the Local Councils Association can confirm, GRTU is working hand in hand both with the Association and with individual Local Councils on a number of projects and schemes for the mutual benefit of Local Councils, residents and the business community.

GRTU told the mayor it is confident that this spirit of co-operation will be enhanced through the welcome co-operation of each mayor.

GRTU will be contacting the Local Councils shortly to set up an introductory meeting which should pave the way for smooth cooperation in the coming years.

GRTU has this week met a small delegation from Montenegro. The last time GRTU representatives visited Montenegro was in June 2007 as part of an official delegation to Setinye. The delegation from Montenegro mentioned that they should shortly join the EU and as such Montenegro has to adopt the EU acquis communautaire. GRTU President Paul Abela told the Montenegrin experience of joining the EU.

They were especially interested in knowing what the business community thought, how they were affected by EU membership, the derogations and exemptions of Malta from certain EU regulations.

They also were interested in the involvement of social partners in the negotiations. GRTU explained the various incentives and schemes for businesses which are currently in place with the support of EU funds.

GRTU also mentioned that GRTU has nothing against Montenegro joining the EU and is available to provide support in the process. In addition to this GRTU had also signed a bi-lateral agreement for cooperation with the Employers Federation in Montenegro that provides support to Maltese and Montenegrin businesses when they are visiting the country.

Gas Distributors have now been hanging on a thin line for quite a number of years now. Since October 2008, Government with a simple stroke of a pen issued Legal Notice 249 of 2008 which has instantly struck them off the map in the most unethical of ways.

Whilst GRTU is always in favour of continuing discussions on this issue, we truly wonder how a Government cannot even decide on such a trivial issue. For this particular issue we all know the facts, one cannot please three different entities – Liquigas, EasyGas or the existing Gas Distributors.

Discussions started in December 2010 just after the end of year strike and by July 2011, after long hours of discussions a draft legal notice was issued for consultation. The consultation was over by 6^th September but still there was not to be decision as Government does not have the will power to come to terms with the fact that not all decisions can please everyone.

Beyond this, another attempt by Government was put in place, a legal notice that would without fail put an onus on the ownership of cylinders. This was introduced on 29^th November 2011, but to date the cylinder saga continues and the mess grows deeper.

A third attempt is now being put in place, that of creating an official clearance house under one roof. Even this will go to the deep end if it is not supported by legislation which takes the holistic approach required by our market.

To add insult to injury, MCCAA, the Authority responsible for Competition continues to flog dead horses. This is an Authority that has either risen from the dead or was given instructions by Government to stand tall with the business community. The Office of Competition, OC, (it's no longer called ‘fair competition') struggles with the fact that gas distributors are represented by GRTU. This simple fact seems not to be to their liking. They state that this is in breach of European law. We believe otherwise. God forbid, we have joined the European Community so that businesses can no longer be represented by legitimate Constituted Bodies at law.

As has been for many and many years gas distributors are in charge of separate territories, meaning each gas distributor has a specific area assigned to him to service. The OC, Office of Competition, is has felt the need and therefore is currently carrying out an investigation into the territories assigned to be services by these gas distributors. There is in reality no reason behind this investigation. Real experience of the system for so many years has shown us that this system works and it constitutes a social obligation at law.

Furthermore the importing companies have their side of the story too. One of which has made massive investments and continues to insist that the company has bought the whole distribution system. On the other hand, the other importing company not being in a dominant position continues to drive the market in the directions it desires. There is no telling what the next move will be.

When is this government going to learn that there is a time to listen, a time to discuss, a time to evaluate but also a time to decide?

When is this Government going to decide and implement what it deems as decent in 2012?

When is this Government going to wake up to the realities of the problems faced by this sector?

If it is not able to decide it should move on and let others do the job. Delaying such decisions brings about indecisions that affect human beings, their families and their lives. Gas Distributors ARE human beings, they have families and children at home, they have loans to pay, they have decisions to make. The way this Government has badly handled this sector leaves so much to be desired.

Gas Distributors have a social agreement with the community at large and they will continue to serve the community at large. But the knives behind their backs are becoming unbearable by the day. Each day is another dismal morning.

Government has to wake up to a stark reality, that of either putting its foot down and really put in place a distribution system that works within our community as it has done for so many years or else take braver decisions. A decision that will not please everyone, we can live with that, but no decision is utterly another lost day for this sector of the business community.

GRTU has this week organised in conjunction with ETC an information session which was very well received by members. GRTU called the session and invited the ETC to explain the support and schemes falling under the ETC that target employers. The ETC explained that it has undergone significant restructuring and part of the restructuring was aimed at being more responsive to the needs of the employer.

 The ETC has in fact launched an Employers' Services Department. The head of the department Mr Tonio Montebello explained that he himself comes from the private sector and he is trying to revamp the services offered to employers by the ETC to make them more responsive and effective to the needs of employers. He went on to list and explain the services and the schemes:

Services

Vacancy Services (local & EU jobseekers)

Advertising of vacancies on the ETC website, job centres, job banks and daily automailer

Matching of vacancy with suitable job seekers

Personalised Recruitment Services

Employment of Foreign Nationals

EU Nationals

Non-EU Nationals

Employment Licences (Work Permits)

Manpower Records

Engagement / Termination Forms

Employees Lists

Employment Histories

Schemes

Employment Aid Programme

• Facilitate the integration of disadvantaged and disabled people in the labour market. The disadvantaged groups are:

a. Youths under 25 and within 2 years of completing full-time education – 50 % of the Wage costs plus half the employer's NI; Duration of Assistance – 52 weeks

b. Any person who wishes to re-enter working life and who has been absent both from work and from education for at least 2 years.

c. Any person living as a single adult looking after dependants.  

d. Any person who has not attained upper secondary level qualifications or equivalent (ISCED Level 3) and who has been made redundant in the past six months 

e. Any person older than 50 who does not have a job or who is losing his or her job (i.e. has been served with a redundancy notice of termination of employment) 

f. Any long-term, registered unemployed person.

g. Any person who is a registered disabled person and who has a recognised, serious, physical, mental or psychological impairment.  In this case, as from 1/1/2011 age of eligibility will be put up to 65. Level of Assistance – 75 % of the Wage costs for the first year and 60% for the second and third year.; Duration of Assistance – 156 weeks

Work Trial Scheme

20 hrs / week, 12 weeks max, 50% of min wage

• youth, inactive person, over 25 unemployed for over 6 months, recent redundant persons
• Bridging the Gap Scheme
• up to 40 hrs / week, up to 52 weeks max, up to 80% of min wage
• disadvantaged / disabled persons

Training

Traineeships

• a dual system of occupational training. Short term apprenticeships as duration cannot exceed one year, but allows ETC to respond quicker to Employers' needs

 

 

Training Subsidy Scheme

1. for the self-employed and employees of micro enterprises
2. to develop their skills by participating in further off-the-job vocational education and training
3. 75% of the direct training cost up to a maximum of €1,000

 Training Programmes

Training Aid Framework (TAF)

Financial assistance to employers wishing to invest in the training of their workforce.

available for companies in the private sector

subsidy will vary according to the type of training and the size of the enterprise

Training can be in-house or out-sourced and can be given in Malta or abroad through distance learning

Each company will be eligible for a maximum of €250,000 each year

 

Apprenticeships

Participation in the ETC Apprenticeships

Technician Apprenticeship Scheme

Extended Skill Training Scheme

 

 

icw MCAST / ITS

Duration varies from 18 months to 36 months