Author: SME Chamber

MEPs have given their green light to a free trade agreement that will allow for duty free imports into the EU of Palestinian agricultural products, processed agricultural products, as well as fish and other fisheries products. Only a limited number of fresh fruit and vegetables will remain under the entry price system (minimum entry price for imports). Agricultural and processed agricultural goods amount to 70 % of total imports from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

On 19 October 2011, the European Commission DG Trade published the 8th Report on potentially trade restrictive measures adopted by third countries in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The Report's findings call again for close attention to the recent wave of trade restrictions adopted in particular by emerging economies over the past twelve months.

 

The analysis online:

(http://ec.europa.eu/trade/maintenance/html/press-release-743-458_en.htm),

It paints a worrisome picture, indicating the constantly growing number of new potentially trade restrictive measures increasingly becoming part of targeted industrialization policies by third countries. In addition to their individual distortive potential, many measures have a mutually reinforcing character, being part and parcel of the same industrialisation package.

The increasing trade restrictive measures pose a systemic market access problem, as many measures introduced during the economic crisis have remained in force, and are frequently prolonged. Moreover, the number of measures that lapsed in the past twelve months remains unsatisfying if compared to the emergence of new restrictions.

All in all, the Commission notes 424 measures remaining in force or planned by third countries and G20 economies in particular. In the past twelve months, 131 new measures have been noted. Only 17% of all measures have been removed so far (76), with 40 measures eliminated or lapsing in the past year.

The Commission remains particularly concerned about measures adopted in the area of government procurement as well as by export duties and other export restrictions.

The WTO report on trade-related developments in G20 countries, issued on 26 October 2011, confirms these worrisome trends, admitting that some countries, instead of fulfilling the Washington commitment, pursue a policy in the opposite direction. The WTO figures on removal of measures in place (19%) coincide with those of the EU (17%).

These findings clearly indicate insufficient respect by G20 countries for their standstill and roll-back commitments consistently made since the onset of the economic crisis. The upcoming G20 summit in Cannes on 3-4 November provides another opportunity to highlight the importance of resisting protectionist tendencies among the major economies.

One hundred days after entry into force of the most ambitious bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) ever negotiated by the EU, the first meeting of the EU-South Korea Trade Committee, took place in Seoul on 11 and 12 October.

 

Both sides took stock of the FTA's positive aspects for business operators. However, some barriers to implementation of the agreement still remain, mainly relating to regulatory issues. Positive steps have been agreed between the EU and South Korea to tackle these outstanding issues.

During the meeting in Seoul, both parties agreed on ways forward to bridge implementation issues in the areas of motor vehicles and electronics. As regards motor vehicles, market access issues on tyres, after-sales verification rules for diesel emissions and safety standards of cars were tackled. On electronic goods, the meeting addressed the need to recognize agreed ways of testing electronic products.

Commissioner De Gucht underlined the need for the EU and South Korea to use the free trade agreement and deepened partnership to help forge common standards in the future on products such as electric vehicles (ecars). Such a move is key to ensuring that Europe and South Korea remain leaders on standards for the world market so that their companies remain competitive and their consumers have the best choices.

Finally, the Trade Committee identified a number of areas where additional work is needed by both parties to reduce the administrative burden preventing free trade flows, such as complex procedures for imports of European agricultural products in South Korea.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Commissioner De Gucht invited the European business world to give feedback and inform his services of any difficulties with implementation of the agreement. Commissioner De Gucht also encouraged European companies to become certified as "approved exporters" with their national customs administration. This certification is necessary if European companies want to enjoy the abolition of customs duties in accordance with the agreement.

Why did you become an entrepreneur? I followed my grandfather's footsteps

How have you come to chose your line of business?A natural passion for fashion

 

 

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Seville-Spain

 

What is your earliest memory?

When I said yes I do to my wife Fleur

 

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

St Francis of Assisi, my patron and inspiration

* Retail Diesel: €1.32 as of 1st November 2011

 

November 1, 2011	Unleaded (Superbleifrei, Euro sans plomb, Euro95)						Diesel (Gazole, Gasóleo)
MEMBER STATE	FOB	MARGIN	EXCISE	VAT	RETAIL		FOB	MARGIN	EXCISE	VAT	RETAIL
Austria	€ 0.505	€ 0.110	€ 0.586	€ 0.240	€ 1.441		€ 0.505	€ 0.185	€ 0.472	€ 0.232	€ 1.394
Belgium	€ 0.497	€ 0.157	€ 0.643	€ 0.272	€ 1.570		€ 0.497	€ 0.263	€ 0.455	€ 0.255	€ 1.470
Bulgaria	€ 0.500	€ 0.131	€ 0.393	€ 0.205	€ 1.229		€ 0.500	€ 0.185	€ 0.373	€ 0.212	€ 1.270
Cyprus	€ 0.505	€ 0.174	€ 0.391	€ 0.160	€ 1.230		€ 0.505	€ 0.237	€ 0.354	€ 0.164	€ 1.260
Czech Republic	€ 0.510	€ 0.135	€ 0.526	€ 0.234	€ 1.405		€ 0.510	€ 0.207	€ 0.451	€ 0.234	€ 1.401
Denmark	€ 0.500	€ 0.201	€ 0.621	€ 0.330	€ 1.652		€ 0.500	€ 0.265	€ 0.483	€ 0.312	€ 1.560
Estonia	€ 0.500	€ 0.136	€ 0.431	€ 0.213	€ 1.280		€ 0.500	€ 0.181	€ 0.419	€ 0.220	€ 1.320
Finland	€ 0.510	€ 0.159	€ 0.593	€ 0.290	€ 1.552		€ 0.510	€ 0.244	€ 0.357	€ 0.255	€ 1.366
France	€ 0.505	€ 0.137	€ 0.688	€ 0.261	€ 1.590		€ 0.505	€ 0.194	€ 0.488	€ 0.233	€ 1.420
Germany	€ 0.500	€ 0.131	€ 0.680	€ 0.249	€ 1.560		€ 0.500	€ 0.225	€ 0.495	€ 0.232	€ 1.452
Greece	€ 0.510	€ 0.172	€ 0.674	€ 0.312	€ 1.668		€ 0.510	€ 0.271	€ 0.432	€ 0.279	€ 1.491
Hungary	€ 0.515	€ 0.143	€ 0.401	€ 0.265	€ 1.323		€ 0.515	€ 0.212	€ 0.347	€ 0.269	€ 1.343
Ireland	€ 0.515	€ 0.172	€ 0.542	€ 0.258	€ 1.487		€ 0.515	€ 0.198	€ 0.468	€ 0.248	€ 1.428
Italy	€ 0.510	€ 0.197	€ 0.622	€ 0.266	€ 1.595		€ 0.510	€ 0.250	€ 0.477	€ 0.247	€ 1.484
Latvia	€ 0.505	€ 0.167	€ 0.373	€ 0.230	€ 1.275		€ 0.505	€ 0.252	€ 0.314	€ 0.236	€ 1.306
Lithuania	€ 0.510	€ 0.165	€ 0.410	€ 0.228	€ 1.313		€ 0.510	€ 0.228	€ 0.283	€ 0.214	€ 1.235
Luxembourg	€ 0.505	€ 0.145	€ 0.462	€ 0.167	€ 1.279		€ 0.505	€ 0.223	€ 0.320	€ 0.157	€ 1.205
Malta	€ 0.515	€ 0.211	€ 0.469	€ 0.215	€ 1.410		€ 0.515	€ 0.213	€ 0.382	€ 0.200	€ 1.310
Netherlands	€ 0.500	€ 0.150	€ 0.747	€ 0.265	€ 1.662		€ 0.500	€ 0.229	€ 0.446	€ 0.223	€ 1.399
Poland	€ 0.505	€ 0.103	€ 0.391	€ 0.230	€ 1.228		€ 0.505	€ 0.179	€ 0.318	€ 0.230	€ 1.232
Portugal	€ 0.510	€ 0.166	€ 0.601	€ 0.294	€ 1.570		€ 0.510	€ 0.259	€ 0.398	€ 0.268	€ 1.435
Romania	€ 0.500	€ 0.152	€ 0.356	€ 0.242	€ 1.250		€ 0.500	€ 0.224	€ 0.299	€ 0.246	€ 1.269
Slovakia	€ 0.505	€ 0.145	€ 0.570	€ 0.244	€ 1.464		€ 0.505	€ 0.211	€ 0.406	€ 0.224	€ 1.346
Slovenia	€ 0.505	€ 0.132	€ 0.464	€ 0.220	€ 1.320		€ 0.505	€ 0.181	€ 0.372	€ 0.212	€ 1.269
Spain	€ 0.510	€ 0.162	€ 0.439	€ 0.200	€ 1.310		€ 0.510	€ 0.239	€ 0.360	€ 0.200	€ 1.308
Sweden	€ 0.505	€ 0.121	€ 0.596	€ 0.306	€ 1.528		€ 0.505	€ 0.234	€ 0.524	€ 0.316	€ 1.579
United Kingdom	€ 0.500	€ 0.124	€ 0.696	€ 0.264	€ 1.584		€ 0.500	€ 0.178	€ 0.689	€ 0.273	€ 1.640

During a Seminar held earlier on this week, organised by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) in collaboration with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, it transpires that 50-60% of working days are lost to stress.

 

The keynote speaker at the seminar was Dr Rial Gonzales, who heads the Prevention and Research Unit of the European Agency for Safety and health at Work. During his presentation Mr Gonzales emphasised that over the last decade, work related stress has been constantly identified in the EU as one of the major workplace concerns. In fact, work-related stress represents a huge cost in terms of both human distress and impaired economic performance. Up to 25% of workers across Europe complain of stress at work, while 50 and 60% of all working days lost are due to stress. Second most common cause of work-related health problems after stress is back pain.

 

Representaties of Unions and employers addressed participants on their respective roles in implementing the framework agreement on stress at the place of work. Managing stress well can help a person handle the next encounter better, but if poorly managed, stress can lead to physical and further psychological health problems. Work-related stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the job requirements do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the worker.

Many factors such as attitudes, skills, personality, current situation, other events or other people influence a person's perception of events. A person's reaction depends on how he percieves the eent. What is considered stressful by one person might not be considered so by another.

Ms Silvana Aquilina Naudi, GRTU's representative during the Conference referred to modern life as full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations and demands. For many people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. She also said that STRESS is not always bad, in small doses as it can help you perform under pressure and motivate yourself to do your best but when you are constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body will pay the price. STRESS is the body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood.

Important tips of what causes stress;

Survival Stress – You may have heard the phrase "fight or flight" before. This is a common response to danger in all people and animals. When you are afraid that someone or something may physically hurt you, your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better able to survive the dangerous situation (fight) or escape it all together (flight). This is survival stress.

Internal Stress – Have you ever caught yourself worrying about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all? This is internal stress and it is one of the most important kinds of stress to understand and manage. Internal stress is when people make themselves stressed. This often happens when we worry about things we can't control or put ourselves in situations we know will cause us stress. Some people become addicted to the kind of hurried, tense, lifestyle that results from being under stress. They even look for stressful situations and feel stress about things that aren't stressful.

Environmental Stress – This is a response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding, and pressure from work or family. Identifying these environmental stresses and learning to avoid them or deal with them will help lower your stress level.

Fatigue and Overwork – This kind of stress builds up over a long time and can take a hard toll on your body. It can be caused by working too much or too hard at your job(s), school, or home. It can also be caused by not knowing how to manage your time well or how to take time out for rest and relaxation. This can be one of the hardest kinds of stress to avoid because many people feel this is out of their control.

Signs and symptoms of stress overload;

Cognitive symptoms – Memory problems – Inability to concentrate – Poor judgment – Seeing only the negative – Anxious or racing thoughts – Constant worrying

Emotional symptoms – Moodiness – Irritability or short temper – Agitation, inability to relax – Feeling overwhelmed – Sense of loneliness and isolation – Depression or general unhappiness

Physical symptoms – Aches and pains – Diarrhea or constipation – Nausea, dizziness – Chest pain, rapid heartbeat – Loss of sex drive – Frequent colds

Behavioral symptoms – Eating more or less – Sleeping too much or too little – Isolating yourself from others – Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities – Using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to relax – Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

How Managers/Employers can help reduce job stress

Improve communication – Share information with employees to reduce uncertainty about their jobs and futures. Clearly define employees' roles and responsibilities. Make communication friendly and efficient, not mean-spirited or petty.

Consult your employees – Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their jobs. Consult employees about scheduling and work rules. Be sure the workload is suitable to employees' abilities and resources; avoid unrealistic deadlines. Show that individual workers are valued. Offer rewards and incentives. Praise good work performance, both verbally and officially, through schemes such as Employee of the Month. Provide opportunities for career development. Promote an "entrepreneurial" work climate that gives employees more control over their work.

Cultivate a friendly social climate – Encourage opportunities for social interaction among employees. Establish a zero-tolerance policy for harassment. Make management actions consistent with organizational values.

Psychological support in the workplace – Duty of care – Economic and performance argument

Types of Psychological support available – In- house counseling/in-house psychotherapist – Out sourced therapy services – EAP

Closing address was by Dr Peter Micallef, Parliamentary Assistant at the Ministry for Health, the Elderly and Community Care.

Anyone wishing to communicate with Ms Silvana Aquilina Naudi, Psychotherapist, GRTU Executive Council member via email or 79 441513

Gas Distributors, members of the GRTU, earlier this afternoon silently protested outside Parliament just as members of Parliament were reconvening for their afternoon session over the Arriva debacle with large Banners carrying the GRTU Logo and reading ‘Toholqux Arriva ohra Froga wahda bizzejjed din is-sena"

 

The Gas Distributors members of GRTU are so upset at the current situation, where despite the fact that a multiflag operation has been put in place for a month, discussions which were to be held with the suppliers are at a standstill. The dominant market player Liquigas seems to have decided on a position whereby although it communicates with GRTU on behalf of the Distributors it is staying away from meetings concerning the issue. This is rather strange after taking due consideration that prior to 18th October 2011 Liquigas and GRTU held meetings every week with this particular supplier.

How can a supplier operate with the Distributors if it fails to discuss with them? Liquigas have no right to do this. They are in breach of their contractual obligations. Gas Distributors will not succumb to such treatment. Government must realise that what existed for the last fifty years, is without doubt the best distribution system for this small island of ours. We continue to insist that this system is one which caters for all the sectors of the population anywhere in Malta and Gozo, from an old lady who lives in the fourth floor to a person with disability who lives in the first floor. What the new market players want today will increase the cost of gas cylinders to the public in general. They want the public to pay additionally for the service. They want the old lady to pay someone to go and get her cylinder or is served however at an over the moon price. That is where they want to make their money from. They call this additional service. Maybe these major players can put our mind at rest that what has been happening in nearby Sardegna and Capri and also Sorrento, where prices hit the Euro 32 for gas cylinders will not happen in Malta.

This is how they expect to make money…riding on people's back. So is competition called competition when prices for a product explode just because there are now two suppliers in the market?!. God forbid that Gas, being an essential commidity is relegated to the tune of the ‘Mars Choclate Bar' which can be bought at ten different prices from ten different places. If this price is no longer established by MRA hell will break loose and at the end the consumers is to lose.

That is why we strongly believe that the way things are going the Government of the day is slowly but step by step working on establishing ARRIVA 2, this time in the gas sector. ARRIVA 2 based on the concept of the word "competition" which would eventually mean that John, the public, pays through his nose for a gas cylinder. As if we have not seen what privitisation results were! Is The public better off? Or is the suppier better off?

The gas distributors out there in the market hope that Government works on a solution which is one system, ‘multiflag' operating in this market. Any thing beyond this, means that Government is being dictated by those who have pocket full of money and has decided to throw the small self employed distributors and the consumers to the end gutter.

Aimed at growth through small businesses expansion support of businesses in the localities and increased capital expenditure – “GRTU’s main budget task this year is, growth trough utilization of unutilized economic resources” stated Vince Farrugia, Economist and Director General of GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs.

 

“The Maltese banks have excess liquidity far beyond what they need but also with the limits of what Maltese SMEs need. Under current tight credit rules banks have no urge to go beyond standard security requirements and most small businesses cannot come up with additional collateral and be able to guarantee the loans they need to make their business grow, refurbish and renovate or move from a dying line into more attractive business opportunities. The recession has eaten away most reserves and the properties they have for use as collateral for extensions are either empty or currently unsalable. There is no money around. Only the banks have it. GRTU strives to cause Government to incentivize the banks through enhanced loan guarantees beyond the restricted conditions and limits of the micro credit schemes so that businesses can plan ahead, invest and grow. Small businesses represent 98% of Maltese enterprise. If they all make one step further our GDP will grow ten steps forward”, emphasized Vince Farrugia.

The owners of the empty buildings spread all over Malta need incentives to use the excess building stock for business and household expansion. The localities must guarantee the fiscal incentives to encourage business growth in the localities. Women want to work but they want to work closer to home so every hour available is used economically and not wasted travelling around Malta. Enterprise can be encouraged to move back office work to our villages through schemes that encourage empty blocks to be used as additional office space. Many businesses want to buy new premises to expand. Many empty blocks can be changed from apartments for sale to old age retirement homes, new self catering tourism accommodation or lodging for tourists or students.

There is so much that can be fruitfully done to better use our unutilized financial and building resources. Tourism should not remain the domain of hotel owners. People with large homes all around Malta and not just in the tourist areas should be incentivized to use all this accommodation excess capacity to lodge tourists, 1.2 million tourists a year for a destination like Malta is too ridiculously low. All the talk about tourism carrying capacity when three quarters of Malta hardly ever see a tourist in their locality is nonsense.

No other country in the Community can boast of such a service.We have enough resources for growth. Government needs also to speed more our capital investments in the infrastructure. Too much of the infrastructure is old.

Spending on capital investment not only creates growth but makes the country more comfortable”, emphasizes Vince Farrugia on behalf of GRTU.

There is no need for austerity. If the economy grows the deficit will fall as a ratio of GDP and if the small businesses grow and young families are encouraged to buy new homes, through GRTU’s proposal for a tax holiday for two years for Maltese families who want to buy a first home or move to another home-occupying residents, the Government will also earn more as an average out of every €100 increase in GDP, 20% goes in increasing labour income, 40% goes to Government as an additional tax review and 40% goes to enterprise to cover all enterprise costs and profits less wages.

Why did you become an entrepreneur?  I am the type of person that grabs every valid opportunity that comes on my way.

How have you come to choose your line of business?I always had a passion with cars

 

 

 

 

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Germany- Attended a car show to see what is coming out on the market.

 

What is your earliest memory?

When we had our first baby

 

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

Obama- I see him as an intuitive person and the way he tackle the situation.