Author: SME Chamber

This Legal Notice tries to regularise the employment of workers under the title of self-employment. GRTU has raised this issue both here in Malta with the responsible Ministry, at the Employment Relations Board  (ERB) when the ERB asked for GRTU's advise and in Brussels directly with DG Enterprise and with DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and GRTU as the Maltese national organisation representing the self-employed sector and micro, small and medium employers, is satisfied that the new legal regulations regulating the employment of individuals on a relationship of self-employment does not hamper genuine entrepreneurs who seek to farm out work to professional and independent self-employed and that under the excuse of self-employment no unfair competition is created to hamper the opportunities for work for those who as a vocational choice prefer to work as independent small private entrepreneurs better known as self-employed.

Overall the new regulations concluded after lengthy consultations achieve a fair balance between the rights of genuine self-employed and the right of enterprise to choose the form of engagement best suitable to encourage further private initiative and economic growth.  GRTU, however stresses that this is one other case were in spite of the Small Business Act provisions action is being taken by Government without any statistical evidence justifying the requirement and without any measure of the impact of these new bureaucratic burdens on business and employment. GRTU continues to emphasise that it is the right of enterprise to seek first and foremost how to continue to offer on the market good quality service and products within the most competitive environment and in the absence of excessive bureaucratic burdens.

Here rather than reducing, Government is increasing bureaucratic burdens, in a labour market which in Malta is already very restrictive and at a time when our overseas competitors are liberalising and not further restricting the labour market.

Il-President Paul Abela u l-vici President Philip Fenech tal-GRTU attendew u ppartecipaw f'Business Breakfast bit-tema "Is the Political Crises Over?" organizzat mill- Intercontinental u s-Sunday Times.Il-President Paul Abela intervjena u qal li "kullhadd ghandu r-responsabbilta' tieghu.
Taghna hi li ninvestu u nhaddmu n-nies u naqdu dmirna ha tikber l-ekonomija u ahna nsostnu li xoghol il-politiku li jitla' fil-parlament hu li jizgura stabbilita' matul il-legislatura kollha u li jtina strutturi, ligijiet u pjanijiet li fihom l-ekonomija tista tikber ghal gid ta' kulhadd. In-nies tan-negozju jridu klima ta` certezza u nikkundannaw lil dawk li minflok jaghtu din ic-certezza u stabbilita' joholqu incertezza u instabbilita'. Ahna nippretendu li meta nippjanaw biex Elezzjoni issir fi zmiena hadd fil-parlament m'ghandu jivvinta kif johloq incertezza.

Ahna insostnu li l-partiti ghandhom isolvu l-problemi ta' nuqqas ta' qbil bejniethom gol-partiti stess u   mhux ihawwdu lin-nies. Ir-rapporti li ghandna min shabna fi Brussell huma li pajjizna qed ikun irredikolat minhabba l-fatt li meta l-pajjizi l-ohra fl-Unjoni Ewropeja jkollhom problemi kbar li jikkawzawlhom l-instabbilita' ahna f'Malta fejn problemi ekonomici kbar m'ghandniex, xorta qed inbghatu minn incertezza ekonomika kawza ta' ribeljoni ta' membru wiehed parlamentari."

"Ahna nixtiequ li kemm il-Gvern kif ukoll l-oppozizzjoni jaqblu fuq pjan legislattiv sa l-ahhar tal-legislatura u li l-elezzjoni issir fi zmienha fl-2013. Il-Membri Parlamentari m'ghandhomx ikunu inkoragguti, hu min hu fil-Gvern li x'hin ifettilhom jistghu jirrikattaw lill-Gvern elett mill-poplu. In-nies tan-negozju jridu li l-Prim Ministru u il-Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni jaqblu fuq din: Gvern li jitla` bil-maggoranza tal-voti ghandu dritt jiggverna ghall-perjodu kollu tal-legislatura. Hekk isir fl-Amerika u hekk qed jippruvaw jaghmlu l-Inglizi u hekk hu f'hafna pajjizi. Il-kompozizzjoni tal-Kabinett tinbidel u l-ligijiet jistghu jaghddu jew ma jaghddux imma l-istabbilita' ta' Gvern b'maggoranza ta' voti tal-poplu m'ghandiex tkun mhedda."

Il-GRTU tappella lill-Gvern li din il-kwistjoni tal-ftuh tal-hwienet fil-Hdud u l-Festi jaqtaghha darba ghall-dejjem – mhux sewwa min jaffordja ghandu l-ghazla u min ma jaffordjax m'ghandux ghazla. U min ma jhallasx u jiftah jigu jaghlquh il-pulizija qisna f'pajjiz kommunista u jekk is-sid ma joghbdix itelluh il-Qorti qisu kriminal u jekk ma jhallasx il-multi jibghatuh l-habs. Affariijiet ta' barra minn hawn. Dan kollu ghax sid ta' hanut jezercita il-professjoni tieghu li jaqdi lill-pubbliku. U l-Onor Dr Jason Azzopardi biex jwarrab din l-antikalja jrid imur ghand l-MCESD. Affarijiet tad-dahk kieku mhux ghax jolqtu fil-laham il-haj lin-nies taghna. M'hijiex kwistjoni tal-MCESD din. Baqa' biss tariffi bla sens. Ma mmorrux l-MCESD fuq tnehhija ta' tariffi bla sens.

 

Il-GRTU tibqa' issostni li b'risponsabbilta' li s-sidien tal-hwienet ghandhom jiehdu hsieb taghhom infushom u tal-familja taghhom u tal-imjegati u l-familji taghhom u jaghmlu kull sforz ha jgawdu il-Hdud u l-Festi mal-familja, imma l-ghazla ghandha tkun taghhom u mhux imposta bla sens u b'diskriminazzjoni mill-Gvern. Mhux post il-Ministru li jindahal aktar meta ghandu u m'ghandux jiftah il-hanut is-sid li jimxi mal-ligi. Il-pulizija ghandhom hafna aktar x'jaghmlu milli joqghodu jarrestaw lis-sidien tal-hwienet Onorevoli Jason Azzopardi. U l-MCESD m'ghandux hin x'jahli fuq kwistjoni li messa ilha li giet solvuta.

Wara kollox il-Gvern ha id-decizjoni li m'hemm xejn kuntrarju li l-hwienet kollha jifthu l-Hdud u fil-Festi diga' hadha bi ftehiem mal-GRTU u m'hemm l-ebda decizjoni importanti x'jiehu li ghandu ghalfejn idahhal fiha lill-MCESD. Kulhadd jista' jiftah fil-Hdud u l-Festi Onorevoli Jason Azzopardi. Basta jhallas 700 ewro. M'hemmx principji. Kwistjoni biss jekk sid ta' hanut meta jiftah jaqlax bizzejjed biex ihallas is-700 ewro u jifdallu. Kwistjoni jekk hanut jaffordjax jhallas jew le. U jekk inti b'hanut f'Malta. Ghax f'Ghawdex din il-ligi diga' bdilniha. Wkoll bi ftehim mal-GRTU. F'Ghawdex m'hemmx restrizzjonijiet.

Illum min jaffordja jhallas €700 jiftah jekk irid u haddiehor ghax zghir u ma jaffordjax anke jekk irid jiftah ma jiftahx. Ara l-akbar grupp ta' supermarkets diga' habbar li se jiftah il-gurnata kollha kemm f'jum San Pawl u kif wkoll is-Sibt sa l-ghaxra ta' bil-lejl u il-Hadd wkoll. Ghax ghalihom 700 ewro tihmil id-drass. Imma ghaz-zghir hafna  ma jifthulux biex jaghmlulu kompetitizjoni. Ara l-Kamra tal-Kummerc favur din il-kummiedja.

Il-GRTU trid li din il-farsa tispicca. Trid li l-ghazla jekk hanut jiftahx jew le biex jaqdi lil  kommunita'  tkun f'idejn is-sid tal-hanut. Is-sidien tal-hwienet kollha jaqblilhom li ma jkunx hemm aktar xkiel zejjed. Jaqblilhom ghax il-valur tan-negozju taghhom joghla u jinzel skond kemm is-sid ghandu liberta' ta' kemm jista` jiftah fi granet u f'hinijiet li jaqbillu li jiftah il-hanut. Illum hanut f'zona fejn m'hemmx xkiel ta' Hdud u Festi jiswa' mod u l-iehor f'zona fejn ma tistax tiftah jekk ma thallasx is-700 ewro jiswa anqas. Ghalhekk is-sidien intelligenti jridu l-helsien ghax l-ghazla jifthux tkun f'idejhom u in-negozju taghhom jkun jsarraf aktar. Huma jafu jekk jaqblilhomx jifthu jew le. Huma jafu jkejlu jekk is-suq jitilfuhx jekk jibqghu maghluqin jew isalvahwx jekk jifthu. U jekk ma jafux jaghmlu il-kalkoli taghhom u m'ghandhomx il-hila jiddeciedu u jridu lil Gvern jiddeciedi ghalihom allura ghandhom problema gravi. Ghax hadd ma jidhol fin-negozju u jippretendi li il-Gvern joqghod ifissdu. Hekk ghada tahseb il-Kamra tal-Kummerc. Mhux hekk izda ghal-GRTU.

Din kwistjoni li suppost ftehmna li nsolvuha fuq mhedda ta' ghaxar snin billi ndahhlu riformi wahda wara l-ohra sakemm fl-ahhar ngibu bidla lejn il-liberalizzazzjoni shiha. Hekk riedet il-GRTU bidla bil-mod halli kulhadd jipprepara ghaliha. Issa ghadda zmien bizzejjed. Issa kull ma baqghalu jnehhi l-Gvern hi din il-mizata redikola ta' 700 ewro intaxxata fuq min irid jiftah. Il-GRTU b'responsabbilta' tat parir lill-Gvern sa mis-sena l-ohra biex jaghmel il-pass li jmiss. Il-Gvern izda minflok li ha l-parir intelligenti tal-GRTU, l-assoccazzjoni nazzjonali li ilha waheda 63 sena tirraprezenta lin-negozji fil-kommunita', beza' u rega qed ikaxkar saqajh. Is-sena l-ohra talab lill-GRTU ghall-sena ohra. Is-sena ghaddiet u rega qed jibza'. Qisu hemm xi babaw. Kull ma hi decizjoni li jnehhi tariffi bla sens ghax kif issostni l-GRTU id-decizjoni li kulhadd jista' jiftah ilha li ittiehdet.

Id-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU Vince Farrugia f'isem il-GRTU din il-gimgha kiteb lill-Ministru Tonio Fenech u lill-Ministru Jason Azzopardi biex din il-kwistjoni jaqtuha darba ghal dejjem. Dan il-GRTU ghamlitu wara li l-Gvern rega' iddecieda li jirrifjuta t-talba tal-GRTU u jhalli kollox kif inhu, jigifieri li min mhux suppost jiftah u jrid jiftah jkollu jhallas €700 jew jekk jiftah jissogra li jigu l-pulizija jaghlquh u jtellghuh il-qorti qisu xi kriminal. "Il-GRTU issostni li z-zminijiet inbidlu u llum m'ghadux iz-zmien li l-Gvern joqghod jindahal fuq meta konsumaturi ghandhom jaghzlu li jmorru jixtru u meta sid ghandu jiftah jew ma jiftahx" sostna id-Direttur Generali.

"Ir-responsabbilta' minn issa l-hemm ghandha tkun fuq is-sid tan-negozju u ahna nemmnu li b'responsabbilita' l-maggoranza assoluta tas-sidien tal-hwienet fil-komunita' se jaghzlu li l-Hadd jibqghu maghluqin. Hekk jaghmlu l-Ghawdxin ghax f'Ghawdex il-GRTU ilha li helset lis-sidien tal-hwienet ghawdxin  minn dan ix-xkiel. Esperementajna u irnexxiet. Issa l-Gvern ghandu jmexxi u mhux jibqa jkarkar. Illum in-nies biex jixtru juzaw l-internet u jekk il-hanut jinzamm maghluq il-bejgh xorta jsir. Fi zmien tal-e-commerce il-ligijiet restrittivi antiki m'ghadhomx aktar jaghmlu sens. U huma fuq kollox ingusti. Ghalhekk il-GRTU qed tkellem lil Gvern car: tajjar l-ixkil li baqa', u inqala l-barra minn din il-kwistjoni. U m'hemm bzonn l-ebda MCESD biex tiddeciedi. Li l-Kamra tal-Kummerc harget kontra l-pozizzjoni tal-GRTU ma nistghagbu biha xejn. Jidher li fil-Kamra tal-Kummerc hemm min hu komdu bil-fatt li min jaffordja jiftah wahdu bla xkiel ta' kompetizzjoni min negozji z-zghar li ma jaffordjawx is-700 ewro. Dwar is-Sunday trading il-Kamra tal-Kummerc hi ghall-kollox kontra il-kurrent. Probabbli hi l-unika Kamra tal-Kummerc fl-Ewropa li ghadha trid il-pulizija iddejjaq lis-sidien tal-hwienet ghax jifthu f'jum ta' festa u jirroftaw li jhallsu din it-taxxa bla sens. L-unika Kamra probbabli li tahseb li sid ta' hanut li jkollu il-liberta' li jaghzel hu jiftahx jew le jkun imcahhad u mhux egevolat. Ma naqblu xejn ma min fil-Kamra tal-Kummerc qed jirraguna b'dan il-mod" jsostni Vince Farrugia Direttur Generali tal-GRTU

"Ricerka li ghamlet il-GRTU u hafna kummenti li ta' spiss nircievu juru li l-facilita' li tista' tixtri fi x'hin trid mill-internet hi raguni ewlenija ghaliex il-bejgh mill-hwienet naqas drastikament. Ma nistawx nibqghu naghmluha difficli biex il-konsumatur jasal ghand il-hanut meta hu l-iktar komdu ghalih. Illum b'xi mod jew iehor il-konsumatur se jinqeda' jew mill-internet jew mill-hwienet. Il-hanut iz-zghir xorta ghandu postu imma jrid helsien assolut u mhux restrizzjonijiet. Helsien li jsib in-nicca tieghu fis-suq u jikkompeti fejn ghall-haddiehor l-ispejjez ikunu kbar wisq. Jikkompeti kif inhu u bla impozizzjoni. Illum  iz-zghar li ma jifilhux ihallsu ma jistghux jikkompetu. Illum il-hwienet iridu jikkompetu f'kull hin. Il-kuncett ta`xiri illum hu differenti minn dak li kien qabel ghalhekk illum ghandna investimenti massivi bhal The Point u shopping malls godda, ghax iz-zmien inbidel. Iz-zghir irid il-liberta' biex hu wkoll jibdel skond il-mezzi li ghandu u skond l-iskemi favorevoli li l-GRTU tinsisti kontinwament li l-Gvern ghandu jipprovdilu. Iz-zghir ghajnuna jrid mhux xkiel. liberta' mhux protezzjoni ta' zmien il-brodu" jikkonkludi Vince Farrugia

This Legal Notice tries to regularise the employment of workers under the title of self-employment. GRTU has raised this issue both here in Malta with the responsible Ministry, at the Employment Relations Board  (ERB) when the ERB asked for GRTU's advise and in Brussels directly with DG Enterprise and with DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and GRTU as the Maltese national organisation representing the self-employed sector and micro, small and medium employers, is satisfied that the new legal regulations regulating the employment of individuals on a relationship of self-employment does not hamper genuine entrepreneurs who seek to farm out work to professional and independent self employed and that under the excuse of self-employment no unfair competition is created to hamper the opportunities for work for those who as a vocational choice prefer to work as independent small private entrepreneurs better known as self employed.

 

Overall the new regulations concluded after lengthy consultations achieve a fair balance between the rights of genuine self employed and the right of enterprise to choose the form of engagement best suitable to encourage further private initiative and economic growth.  GRTU, however stresses that this is one other case were in spite of the Small Business Act provisions action is being taken by Government without any statistical evidence justifying the requirement and without any measure of the impact of these new bureaucratic burdens on business and employment. GRTU continues to emphasise that it is the right of enterprise to seek first and foremost how to continue to offer on the market good quality service and products within the most competitive environment and in the absence of excessive bureaucratic burdens.

Here rather than reducing, Government is increasing bureaucratic burdens, in a labour market which in Malta is already very restrictive and at a time when our overseas competitors are liberalising and not further restricting the labour market.

GRTU in agreement with Government submitted on behalf of members, following approval in retailers` section meetings, a request for the suspension of the legally enforceable charge of €700 on each retail outlet wishing to open (unless their particular operation and locality from which they operate gives them an automatic right to open) on the following listed Public Holidays:

• Friday 10^th February

• Saturday 31^st March

• Thursday 7^th June

• Friday 29^th June

• Saturday 8^th September

• Friday 21^st September

 

 

 

 

 

By general consent of retailers and their employees no request was submitted for the opening of Shops on Christmas Day and on Good Friday.

GRTU strives for the freedom of shop owners to be given the opportunity to decide themselves as on which dates to open for business but insists on due respect to traditions and the special characteristics of the Maltese. GRTU continues support shop owners' and their employees' freedom to choose to reserve a day of rest preferably on Sunday which in Malta is for most the family day of rest.

The shift GRTU is demanding is from a legal imposition to a choice by shop owners, who in their vast majority are owners-managers and family businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

By general consent of retailers and their employees no request was submitted for the opening of Shops on Christmas Day and on Good Friday.

GRTU strives for the freedom of shop owners to be given the opportunity to decide themselves as on which dates to open for business but insists on due respect to traditions and the special characteristics of the Maltese. GRTU continues support shop owners' and their employees' freedom to choose to reserve a day of rest preferably on Sunday which in Malta is for most the family day of rest.

The shift GRTU is demanding is from a legal imposition to a choice by shop owners, who in their vast majority are owners-managers and family businesses.

Following last year's controversy on the opening of shops on public holidays that fall close to special occasions which are deemed to be very important shopping days, where the GRTU strongly advocated for the outlets to be given the opportunity to open without the legal obligation to pay €700 euro's per shop, there seemed to be an agreed commitment by Government that during 2012 the issue would have been managed over a whole year basis.

 

 

 

 

 

The GRTU therefore presented its request, which is simply a formality as bureaucrats also have access to calendars so the exercise could be done automatically really. Now we are informed that in spite of last year's commitment, Government still has failed to decided in time to liberate the 10th of February, an important shopping day in view of Valentines Day.

The GRTU therefore regretfully informs all shops who had planned to open on 10th February that they may have to incur the extra charge if they are not already exempt as Government has refused GRTU's request on behalf of all retailers who wished to open.

We are told Government is still deciding on the other four days which the GRTU has presented.

Report says that gains made by the Single Market Act – will not claw back all the losses caused by the crisis – National industry ministers and European Union policy-makers meeting in Copenhagen this week will hear businesses demand that more public services should be outsourced to the private sector to promote growth. 

A report published yesterday indicates that gains made by the Single Market Act – the European Commission's blueprint for opening up the single market – will not claw back all the losses caused by the financial crisis.

The study, carried out by Copenhagen Economics and commissioned by the Confederation of Danish Industry, a member of Business Europe, predicts a loss of potential gross domestic product (GDP) of 20% in the EU between 2008 and 2017, representing €240 billion per year. Implementing all the priorities listed in the Single Market Act would increase the overall GDP of the EU an estimated 5%.

With no room left for further loosening of fiscal policy in the EU's member states, the report's authors suggest that, to help make up the shortfall, the EU needs to make it easier for the private sector to deliver services normally run by public bodies. This, they add, could lead to a 10%-20% increase in cost savings.

Breaking ‘taboos'

Sinne Backs Conan, a European affairs director with the Confederation of Danish Industry, said that a major increase in the use of the private sector was a "taboo" that had to be broken, in the same way as the financial crisis was forcing the EU to look at pension reform and tax harmonisation. "The private sector can unlock growth. We have to be more radical," she said.

 

 

In a bid to advocate its proposal for the European Energy Community as a means of achieving a common EU energy policy, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and European think-tank Notre Europe brought together prominent EU decision makers, stakeholders and civil society representatives at a major conference.

"We are dismayed by the slow progress on developing the internal gas and electricity market. The time has come to put forward a daring proposal for the European Single Energy Market and the creation of a European Energy Community", said Staffan Nilsson, President of the European Economic and Social Committee. This idea was initially mooted by Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission and founding President of a Paris-based European think-tank, Notre Europe, co-organiser of the conference. In a recent opinion, the EESC endorsed the concept and expanded on it.

The EESC calls for a joint approach to energy production, transmission and consumption. "It is a matter of necessity. Doing it alone is no longer an option, as this pushes energy prices up, jeopardises supply security and does nothing to get us closer to the low-carbon society we are aiming to achieve", added Mr Buffetaut, President of the EESC's Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society.

"The EU, the member states and all involved would let citizens down if they did not tackle these challenges in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility", said Anna-Maria Darmanin, Vice-President of the European Economic and Social Committee, adding that this should ideally be done within a European energy community. In this context, Martin Schulz, EP President, emphasised that this project would smooth our way towards low-carbon society by helping to create new jobs and more growth.

Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for energ, said there would be greater emphasis on common infrastructure projects in the coming years. "This move would help to bind together Europe's hitherto separate 'energy islands'", added Jerzy Buzek, MEP, former President of the European Parliament.

Mr Oettinger struck a cautious note, however, pointing out that some of the EESC's proposals might not be feasible under the current treaty. "Although the Lisbon Treaty has extended the EU's powers in the energy field, some of the key decisions such as the energy mix remain in national hands", he said.

The EESC backed Mr Delors' idea of creating "a European gas purchasing group" to strengthen the bargaining power of Member States and companies. It suggested establishing a common supply structure for gas and other fuels, which would ensure consistency in negotiations and help to reduce prices. Martin Schulz highlighted that integration within the EU should help to secure Europe's external energy supplies. "Common purchasing power could go a long way towards preventing internal tensions between Member States", commented Jerzy Buzek.

In a written message to the conference, Jacques Delors highlighted the European Energy Community's potential for boosting the legitimacy of the European integration process in the eyes of the public. "By re-launching European integration in a concrete policy area and meeting citizens' need and expectations, the European Energy Community is a political project that could mobilise people".

In his statement, Mr Delors also supported the EESC's idea of setting up a European civil society forum tasked with monitoring energy issues such as infrastructure development, market conditions or consumers' rights. By constituting a channel of dialogue with decision-makers, the forum would ensure civil society's involvement in development of the EU's energy policy.

Following the conference, a joint declaration to be signed by Staffan Nilsson and Jacques Delors will call for rapid and operational steps towards the integration of EU energy policy. The conference was jointly organised by the European Economic and Social Committee and Notre Europe, a Paris-based European think-tank founded by Jacques Delors.

System would enable groups of consumers to bring compensation claims against companies – An EU-wide system to enable groups of consumers to bring compensation claims against companies has moved a step closer this week when the European Parliament gives its formal support to the idea – but squabbling between EU officials and member states persists, delaying the introduction of legislation.

MEPs voted following unanimous approval by the Parliament's legal affairs committee, on a report on collective redress drawn up by Klaus-Heiner Lehne, a German centre-right MEP. The European Commission has been dragging its heels on the matter, having launched various consultations involving separate directorates-general dating back to 2008.

However, the intervention of the Parliament and decisions by some member states to delay the introduction of national law, has increased pressure for a formal proposal from the Commission in the coming months.

Joaquín Almunia, the European commissioner for competition, is making the running on the issue, but discussions also involve John Dalli, the commissioner for health and consumer policy, and Viviane Reding, the commissioner for justice, who is less enthusiastic about the idea.

Group compensation

An EU collective redress law would allow groups of consumers to obtain compensation for damages from companies in any member state. About half of EU member states have their own systems, but they differ widely. So-called forum shopping – where litigants choose the jurisdiction where they will most likely win – is commonplace.

There are vast differences between countries, but most national governments have informally suggested that they believe there is a need for EU legislation to create a level playing-field. "Ministries for economic affairs see the need more than ministries of justice, which usually consider their legal system to be supreme," said one EU official. "So not only do attitudes differ from one member state to another, but also within the member states."