Author: SME Chamber

An NCFHE conference concluding its European Social Fund project Making Quality Visiblelaunched the National Quality Assurance Framework for training provision in Malta. The National Quality Assurance Framework was described as a milestone for further and higher education provision in Malta as it consolidates and formalises processes towards achieving and acknowledging quality standards across the board. NCFHE Chairman Martin Scicluna highlighted how this was the first framework of its kind across 

Europe since it is a common framework for both academic as well as vocational training and covers all levels of the Malta Qualifications Framework.

GRTU considers this as a very positive development that helps establish a level playing field in the sector of training provision. It also ensures more seriousness in terms of credibility and mutual understanding of training courses. This supports employers in understanding what the prospective employee has learnt and is able to do after having followed a specific course. Quality training and certification is essential to push forth a more skilled workforce reflecting more and more industry needs whilst being backed by certification which is understandable for recruitment. GRTU sees this as a positive development whilst reiterating that implementation of Quality Assurance policies cannot be dealt with in a one-size-fits-all approach. The processes and contexts of a micro-sized business providing specific training cannot, for instance, be considered under the same guise that the processes and contexts of a national university would.

The idea behind the setting up of a Quality Assurance framework is to up the level of training provision as well as provide support to institutions in order to identify pitfalls and conduct self-improvement. It needs to transcend a culture of quality across the board in terms of training by bringing together all stakeholders including providers, trainers, students, employees, employers and policy-makers. The cycle is based on:

• Internal quality assurance (IQA);
• External review to the internal quality assurance;
• External quality assurance, and;
• Review by the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education.

The process is based on implementation, evaluation, review and planning.

The Quality Assurance process shall seek to assess whether the 10 IQA standards are fit for purpose, functioning and effective, and sustainable. The report on the quality assurance systems of training providers shall be peer-reviewed by experts appointed by the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE).

The Internal Quality Assurance Standards are as follows:

• Presence of an effective quality assurance policy
• Institutional probity (Appropriate Financial Sustainability)
• Appropriate design and approval of programmes
• Student-centred learning, teaching and assessment
• Student admission, progression, recognition and certification
• Competence and development of teaching staff
• Appropriate learning resources and student support
• Appropriate information management
• Appropriate public information
• Ongoing monitoring and periodic review of programmes
• Cyclical external quality assurance

At the end of the conference, Education and Employment Minister Hon Evarist Bartolo presented certificates to the quality assurance experts who operate in various training provider institutions which have undergone the respective training in quality assurance.

 

The MEUSAC Core Group meeting held last Monday hosted Prime Minister Joseph Muscat ahead of the June European Council focusing mostly on economic and security issues. This MEUSAC Core Group meeting however coincided with the Urgent EURO Summit meeting to address the Greek debt crisis and therefore served as an opportunity for social partners to discuss these developments with the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Muscat explained how the Greek crisis was of great concern as in terms of exposure in view of the national economy, Malta and Germany would be the most highly effected should Greece default on their commitments. There seemed to be a conciliatory tone over the weekend which however the Prime Minister was not expecting a definite solution to be found this week but rather an extension of the negotiations over Greece’s commitments and its new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ electoral promises. Prime Minister Muscat explained that Greece seemed to have tabled a more tangible counter-proposal than the previous unrealistic plans.

The situation described by Prime Minister Muscat was a delicate one. If Greece were to further default leading into exiting the Eurozone there would be substantial political and economic repercussions. Politically this would mean a weaker future for Eurozone and the EU concept as a whole giving further space to anti-Community quarters to be fanned. On the other hand, economically this would have a huge impact on the EU member states having contributed to support the Greek debt crisis as well as on any future situations of trust and solidarity.

The MEUSAC Core Group meeting also addressed the EU Council Meeting being held on 25 and 26 June. The Prime Minister outlined the importance to follow up on the security and immigration issues. Immigration figures could be heavily affected even with one-off large boat arrivals despite the arrangements with Italy having proven to be valuable. The Prime Minister also expected the conclusions of the Council to include some form of timeline on the renegotiation of the UK’s EU accession package.

GRTU President Paul Abela addressed the MEUSAC Core Group meeting expressing the need for a balanced approach to the Greek crisis. Abela described the delicate situation as one which had to be handled in a way which is open to compromise as otherwise if Greece were to be given the message that the EU is not ready to negotiate, it could lead to a position where if Greece fails, it would not longer be a situation to compromise and negotiate but rather to receive nothing at all – with all the negative connotations of that result. This has to be done diligently so as not to send out a message that defaulting and stamping one’s feet is tolerated at EU level.

Paul Abela also delved into two main topics being addressed at the June EU Council. He expressed how the Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe should be given importance. GRTU has been continuously emphasizing that online and e-commerce has become inevitable and is therefore the way forward for the retail sector to challenge competition. This would mean that the Government needs to not only support this agenda but also provide the necessary resources to support Maltese SMEs and micro-enterprises the push they need to upgrade to this reality.

Paul Abela also made reference to the Country-Specific Recommendations which would be endorsed during the June Council. Paul Abela focused his intervention on Access to Finance which is identified as key matter for Malta. Abela recognised that the Government’s vision includes non-bank instruments to address needs of Maltese businesses in a more flexible manner allowing the potential growth that is not being reached due to such access to finance constraints. This was outlined in the Budget 2015 speech with various initiatives such as the Development Bank, Seed Capital and Venture Capital initiatives. Paul Abela therefore appealed for this vision to be accelerated. One cannot simply wait for the banks to open their doors further to business needs, but to find non-bank instruments for business solutions which would support our enterprises and perhaps give an incentive for banks to follow suit.

 

F’laqgha kordjali organizzata nhar il-Gimgha 19 ta’ Gunju gewwa l-Kunsill Lokali, Rahal l-Gdid is-sidien tal-hwienet gew pprezentati bil-progett ta’ tisbieh li ser jsir gewwa l-Pjazza Antoine de Paule. Dan l-progett gie pprezentat mill-Kunsill Konsultattiv ghan Nofsinhar ta’ Malta mmexxi mic-Chairman, s-Sur Sur Silvio Parnis. Flimkien mas-Sur Parnis kien hemm prezenti s-Sur Domenic Grima, s-Sindku ta’ Rahal l-Gdid, l-Perit Christopher Mintoff, kif ukoll ma’ rapprezentanti ohra.

Fl-indirizz tieghu s-Sur Parnis qal li dan l-progett ser jaghti spinta l-quddiem lil Rahal l-Gdid u ser jkun ta’ valur mizjud kemm ghal min ghix, jahdem u jzur dan il-lokal. Ghalkemm l-maggorparti kbira tas-sidien qablu li dan il-progett ghandu jsir,hafna minnom urew it-thassib taghhom dwar il-bidliet fil-hidma ta’ kuljum taghhom li dan kien ser jgib, kemm waqt l-process tax-xoghlijiet kif ukoll meta jitlesta. Is-sidien insistew mal-awtoritajiet kkoncernati sabiex jitfassal pjan fejn l-impatt jkun minimu.

Is-Sur Parnis wieghed lil dawk prezenti li hu kien ser jaghmel dak li jista’ sabiex x-xoghol jsir bl-inqas inkonvenjent possibbli izda ma eskludiex li progett bhal dan ma jgibx mieghu ntoppi. Huwa qal li kien diga` tkellem ma’ diversi entitajiet kkoncernati, mar-residenti u ohrajn u  ghad fadallu ohrajn li jrid jkompli jiddiskuti maghhom sabiex jintlahaq l-ahjar kompromess. 

Filwaqt li  l-GRTU tappoggja dan il-progett, titlob sabiex jittiehdu in konsiderazzjoni xi talbiet li l-membri ressqu waqt din l-laqgha ta’ konsultazzjoni.

Wiehed irid jiehu in konsiderazzjoni li Rahal l-Gdid, bhalma huma ohrajn, huwa wiehed mill-irhula b’ammont sostanzjali ta’ servizzi fejn jidhol t-transport pubbliku, sahha, banek, garr u hadd ta’ xoghol, u ohrajn. Wiehed jista jghid li l-ammont ta’ hwienet huwa kbir u l-kontribut ta’ dawn is-sidien huwa sostanzjali fejn dawn barra li jiggeneraw ix-xoghol jsebbhu l-lokal u jzidu l-impjiegi.  Ghalhekk il-GRTU titlob sabiex jittiehdu il-konsiderazzjoni t-talbiet li ghamlet ghan-nom taghhom waqt laqghat diversi fosthom:

Il-Progett:          

Il-GRTU tikkumplimentha lil Kunsill Konsultattiv il-ghaliex skont il-prezentazzjoni li saret mill-Perit Mintoff jidher li l-progett ser ikun wiehed sabih u se johloq hafna spazji fejn wiehed jkun jista’ jgawdi l-isbuhija tal-pjazza u fl-istess hin jinqeda skond il-bzonnijiet tieghu.

L-preokkupazzjoni tal-GRTU hi l-effett fuq l-kummerc waqt l-andament tax-xoghol. Ghalhekk tipproponi bhal ma jsir dejjem, li jsiru laqghat ma kull min hu involut sabiex wiehed jkun nfurmat sew ta’ x’ser jigri. Mhux ser jkun hemm qbil kolletttiv f’kollox izda wiehed jkun jista jasal f’bilanc bejn il-partijiet kollha kkoncernati.

Nifhmu li ser jsiru laqghat mal-entitajiet u awtoritajiet kkoncernati fejn jigi pprezentat programm ta’ kif ser jitqassmu x-xoghlijiet meta u kemm ser jdum x-xoghol, traffic management, trasport u affarijiet ohra essenzjali sabiex ma jinholoq l-ebda inkonvinjent.

Parkegg:               

Din hija wahda mill-issuesli ghandha tittiehed bis-serjeta ghaliex fil-fehma taghna hija wahda preokkupanti, mhux biss f’lokalitajiet li qed isiru progetti u xoghlijiet izda anke ohrajn. Wiehedghandu jiehu stockta’ dak li diga jezisti llum u tinstab alternattiva simili.   Il-GRTU taqbel mall-proposta fejn toroq b’bankini wiesa

 

As a follow-up to the Budget 2015 Speech proposal whereby it was stated that the Government is aiming at furthering a National Strategy towards Electronic Payments in order to combat tax evasion and money laundering avenues, GRTU members were given an overview of an FIAU (Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit) proposal limiting cash transactions.

The measure is intended to:

a) Reinforce Malta’s Anti-Money Laundering Framework

b) Cut down on cash hoarding

c) Potential reduction in crime (e.g. hold-ups, etc.)

d) Combating Tax Evasion

e) Increasing Payment Traceability

f) Ensuring a more efficient and safer payment environment

The proposal is to make cash transactions above a specific amount decided upon by the Finance Minister illegal. The amount is to be no more than €15,000, however the proposal being put forward sets the limit at €10,000. This refers to cash transactions which are single transactionsbut also if they are linked transactions. Anyone caught contravening shall be fined between 15% and 40% of the amount exceedingthis said threshold. There shall also be an obligation upon which a subject person who knows or suspects of such transactions in cash has to inform the respective authorities immediately.

GRTU members are asked to send their feedback to GRTU or inquire for further information on   by not later than 13th July 2015. This will allow GRTU to include this in its feedback.

 

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca opened the MCAST 2015 Expo which also launched its Course Prospectus for the upcoming scholastic year with 163 courses starting next October. MCAST CEO Stephen Cachia explained how MCAST would now also be delving into the Performing Arts and seeking to advance courses at Masters Level (MQF 7) in the near future. The MCAST EXPO, being held at MCAST Paola until Saturday 27th June, is aimed at offering visitors a taste of the MCAST learning experience. 

 

An info session by Malta Enterprise (ME) on the Certify Tax Credit Scheme was hosted by GRTU this week.

The scheme is intended to offer a financial incentive for undertakings to improve the quality of their products, services an processes through the attainment of recognised quality marks, certifications and licenses. The maximum amount of the tax credit is 50%of the costs up to €25,000 (less for some specific certifications) which can utilised over a maximum of an additional two years after the year in which the certification is obtained.

The scheme covers ME approved certifications, namely: CE Marking; Halal Certification; GMP; Good Clinical Practice; ISO 9001; ISO 14001; ISO 50001; ISO 22000; ISO/TS 16949; HACCP; and ANSI/UL 61010-1. The deadline for

 these is the 31st December 2017. Other certifications may be applied for but first need to be approved by ME. The application for such approval closes on 30th June 2017. Eligible costs include consultation and certification costs.

Enterprises are encouraged to inquire for further information by contacting GRTU on 21232881 or " title="">

 

The pensions strategy seeks to incentivize savings in voluntary pension schemes and working beyond retirement age. It also maintains the present retirement age of 65 and rules out increasing social security contributions as well as compulsory second-pillar pensions, which are supplementary pensions paid by employers and employees.

He strategy is built on the principles that state pensions should be a solid source of income for pensioners, but should not be the only one.

It also sought to strike a just balance between the amount of time in which

 contributions are paid and the amount of time benefits are received, and to reform the system in such a way that it would be capable to evolve to address future developments.

The strategy includes a total of 27 recommendations, divided into four

categories:

1. reforms addressing social needs and issues related to society and work;
2. reforms addressing the sustainability of the pension system;            
3. reforms to encourage saving up for complementary pensions; and
4. reforms to address the problems faced by those who are already pensioners.

At present, those born on 1962 or later are required to make 40 years of social security contributions to be entitled to a full pension, but the reform proposes that those born on 1965 or later should contribute another year.

However, the proposed reforms would also increase the contributions credited to those who stop working to take care of their children, up to

5 years for their first child, 4 years for their second and 3 years for their third.

It would also credit full-time studies in courses which are MQF Level 5 (undergraduate diploma or certificate) or higher. Three months of contributions are to be credited for every year of studying MQF Level 5 (undergraduate diploma or certificate) or 6 (bachelor’s degree) courses, going up to six months per year of Level 7 (master’s degree) courses, and a full year for Level 8 (doctoral degree) ones.

Those entitled to retire between the age of 61 and 65 could improve their pension by up to 12% if they continue to work and forego their pension while they do so. Pensions could be improved even further if people keep working without receiving a pension beyond the age of 65.

At present, only those born on 1962 or later are entitled to a guaranteed national minimum pension (GMNP), but the reform proposes gradually extending this to older people, addressing the most vulnerable pensioners first. Those who would be 76 or older on 1 January 2016 would start receiving the guaranteed national minimum pension next year, and this would become universal by 2027.

The proposed pensions strategy is now open for public consultation and documents can be accessed through the following link: http://bit.ly/1exi9RL

Feedback can be sent by 17th July 2015, either by email on

 

GRTU President Paul Abela has attended the 104^thInternational Labour Organisation conference. The ILO conference brings together tripartite delegations which include governments, employer and worker delegates from the organisation’s 185 member states. Through these meetings the delegates reached a consensus on the need of a comprehensive policy framework and pro-active growth strategies, both at global and national levels.  The twelve day plenary focused on addressing issues that affect the 

working lives of millions all over the world and promoting SMEs as creators of productive employment. The conference also focused on wages, health and safety, working time and maternity protection with lies at the heart of the ILO mandate and of all delegates present.

 

In a launch conference bringing together various stakeholders and representatives of all the MCAST Institutes and Centres, MCAST has launched its plan ahead through the setting up of three colleges:

• Foundation College (Covering MQF Levels 1-3)
• Technical College (Covering MQF Level 4)

• University College (Covering MQF Level 5-7)

MCAST Chairperson Dr Silvio Debono gave a thorough overview of the strategic outlook for MCAST’s way forward. The changeover is to take place throughout the next three years with the aim of ensuring greater autonomy to the institutes as well as flexibility. MCAST has been offering courses as of Level 1 (comparable to School Leaving Certificate without O-levels) up to Level 6 (comparable to a University Degree). It will now venture into Level 7 (comparable to a Masters’ Degree).

MCAST is seeking to consolidate what has been achieved over the past years by having more vocational programmes across different levels and consolidating the linkages with both education and industry. This is based on three strategic pillars which are:

• Cross-curricular based learning: To ensure that all students attending MCAST will have the opportunity to learn and practice across a holistic approach of learning.
• Work-based learning: To ensure that all students attending MCAST will have work exposure, apprenticeship and internships as a critical component in their programme.
• Entrepreneurship experience: To ensure that all students attending MCAST will be exposed to higher level of engagement with future prospects.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo emphasized how important this change was yet it would only reap the benefits it is intended to if it manages to instil a change in practice. The colleges need to work as proposed across the notion of the former institutes and interchangeably work together as a college rather than as a stream, each on its own. The strategic pillars can elevate MCAST to the next level but only if it is implemented across the board and holistically. Otherwise, the Minister stated that this would be merely a cosmetic change, which he was sure it would not be. The idea is that MCAST becomes accredited as vocational university. The Minister also said that this would not mean that there should be unhealthy competition with the University of Malta but that through this renewed vision a wider cross-section of students continues to be reached.

GRTU is already working closely with MCAST as well as private training provision to ensure both a better quality workforce as well as citizens by ensuring a stronger bridge between education and industry. This is being done in various forms and increasing cooperation. Building on the past successes of MCAST to take the college to the next level is key for both education and the economy.