Author: SME Chamber

* 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.

A green economy is a dynamic, sustainable, and economically robust market system that responsibly utilizes scarce and finite natural resources, and that protects, restores, preserves, and enhances our environment, while improving the social and living conditions of workers and customers now and in the future.

 

Malta lacks natural resources and our dependence on fossil fuels continues to be the driving force of our economy. Without going into the complexities Malta needs a vision by enacting legislation through Parliament that will firmly put in place a Green job strategy

Green jobs in Malta could be created through the following sectors namely , retrofitting of buildings, waste managment, solar and other renewable energy sources, transportation, tourism and also agriculture.

However in order to set the ball rolling we need to understand the reality of where we stand today and the actual targets or benchmarks we need to set. They need to be achievable targets. Green jobs need to be identified in the above sectors and once identified, we would need to assess the educational basis required to sustain these green jobs long term.

One of the most obvious option for green investment in communities is a large-scale building retrofit program to create energy efficiency in buildings, which would rely entirely on known technolo­gies such as high-performance double glazed windows, efficient cooling , ventilation and air conditioning systems, efficient light­ing and day-lighting, building-integrated photovoltaic-powered energy, and the installation of efficient appliances. The retrofitting will have to be in line with EU Directives as currentlyin place. In itself alone this would create green jobs which to date are mostly being made by foreigners in large projects . Retrofitting of all public buildings should be a must on the Government's Agenda . Retrofitting of buildings would create jobs including but not limited to , Insulation Technicians, Ventilation and Heating technicians, flooring installers, photovoltiac panels installets, Green Engineers,Green Bulding Inspectors , Panel installers and Lighting engineers.

Renewable energy sources in themselves, solar and wind power and herein Malta wave power are also well positioned to create an industry of green jobs which has as yet to be tapped. Government needs to set demanding targets in order to make sure that meeting these targets would require important action implementation to be taken.

The above sector would relate in much needed green jobs, like Environmental Engineers, Sheet steel workers, Electrical Equipment Assemblers, Electrical Engineers, Welders, Metal fabricators

Another sector which Government should continue to foster is the waste managment sector. This sector now has to meet demanding targets as set by the European Community and the Government needs to make sure that it strives hard to achieve these targets. In most waste streams the polluter or extended polluter pays principle continues to be the driving force in this sector.

In waste managment , we need to create an educational structure that will provide the backdrop to the growth of this industry. We need to educate the sector from scratch in order to provide a higher level of job satisfaction . Local Councils need added motivation to set this sector in further motion. The recovery of segregated recyclables from localities can in itself create much more jobs and the following list of jobs could all be created in this sector including, Street Enforcement Officers, Eco Councillors, Assistant Waste Carriers, Waste Operators in so many sectors, mainly in the dismantling and primary treatment of WEEE ( Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Products).

Accordingly the waste mangament sector also would increase green collar jobs in respect to environmental engineers, air and pollution engineers and also ancillary jobs in the managment of so many different waste streams.

However legislation to be enacted in this sector requires a long term plan. In our search for maximising the creation of Green jobs , Government needs to introduce , Residential Energy Tax credit , Residential solar tax credit, Business energy tax credit , Energy efficient commercial buildings tax deduction , and last but not least a sturdy Energy efficient new homes tax

Creating green jobs depends on the will power of Government and its Authorities to wake up to a new challenge, that of delivering a sustainable policy for our tomorrow ‘s generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The European Commission has concluded a very ambitious trade agreement with Ukraine. It goes beyond a classical FTA and will introduce many elements of the single market to the Eastern European country. The adoption of European standards will abolish the vast majority of market access barriers for goods and services in both directions. The agreement covers all trade-related areas (including intellectual property rights, customs, public procurement, energy, competition etc.).

 

 

 

 

Ueapme Working Group on SME Finance met in Brussels this week. Participants agreed on the main policy lines to take on the Capital Requirements Directive, warning that the risk weight for SME retail loans should be reduced right away, rather than after a review of the new directive as suggested by the European Commission.

 

 

Our experts also welcomed the agreements to tackle the crisis reached by the European Council and the Euro zone Member States, in particular on bank recapitalisation, as the texts mention the need to maintain the credit flow to the real economy. SME lending must not be affected, all participants demanded.

The Working Group was also updated on the EC plans on SME finance, which are largely in line with our demands for more attention to mezzanine finance and to instruments capable of increasing the SME lending capacity, although the details remain sketchy for the time being.

Finally, participants received updates on State Aid and on the Single Euro Payments Area.

During a meeting of the Board of Directors, Mr Loek Hermans re-signed from his position of President of UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation. Mr Her-mans cited his impossibility to continue with his mandate and perform his duties and plans.

 

The Board of Directors agreed to nominate Vice President Gunilla Almgren as Spokesperson of the Board for the remainder of Mr Hermans' mandate, until 31 December 2012, to assure no gaps in leadership at UEAPME. This decision was unanimous and will have to be confirmed by the next General Assembly of the organisation on 28 November in Brussels.

Gunilla Almgren is an entrepreneur in the sanitary fittings industry. She presently serves as First Vice-President of the Board of Företagarna, the Swedish Federation of Private Enterprises, a position she has held since 2002. She also sits in the Board of several Swedish business-related organisations as well as private companies. At UEAPME, she serves as Policy Vice President for Sustainable Development.

On top of her professional engagements, Ms Almgren has also actively participated in several committees and working groups set up by the European Commission in the past years. She is also the representative of Företagarna in the SME Group at the Swedish Trade Council. Ms Almgren holds a Diploma in Business Administration from the IHM Business School and speaks English, French, German, Italian and Spanish in addition to her mother tongue.