During a Business Breakfast focused on Tourism it was highlighted that with investment and effort to increase the quality of standards, Malta could be able to attract up to 2.8 million tourists annually if peak season arrivals could be replicated in the off-peak season, according to Malta Tourism Authority CEO Paul Bugeja. However tourism expert George Cassar voiced his concern that Malta had reached saturation point and added that he believes that Malta would not be able to cater for more than the 1.7 million tourists that
visited the island in the previous year.
On the other hand Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis stated that tourism in Malta could still benefit from improvement, making due reference to the fact that an increase in the arrivals between October and November could be observed and that addressing the lack of infrastructure in the south could easily increase tourism in the area. Dr Zammit Lewis continued by expressing his concern about three-star hotels, saying that business owners should make a greater effort to improve their level of service.
GRTU Deputy President Philip Fenech, who also represents entertainment and hospitality sector at GRTU, reacted from the floor expressing that he believes that the investment accomplished by the Corinthia Group will increase the standards and positivity across the St. Julians area. This achievement should be an example to businesses in the area to upgrade and invest in their sector.
Mr Fenech continued by stating that the southern part of Malta should no longer be considered as an industrial area but rather as another touristic area with niches of its own. However it is also important that environmental restraints must be considered. Mr Fenech concluded by addressing issues that concern the Paceville commercial community. He mentioned that loitering must be addressed by all stakeholders in order to reach conclusions. He also mentioned that language school students within St Julians area are causing havoc and thus language schools should focus on attracting older students which would increase higher added value in the area. These were a few of the points Mr Philip Fenech discussed with the panel.
GRTU notes with pleasure that Government has heeded its concerns on the need for new schemes in the renewable energy sector, mainly PV installations. A new grant scheme shall be launched next week, with a feed in tariff agreed with GRTU which is much better than originally planned by
Government. The grant level and the way the scheme and the funds will be managed were also discussed during several meetings. A compromise has been reached to satisfy the retailers’ needs allowing for a good number of sales at a steady pace, as well as presenting a favourable investment opportunity to customers while addressing concerns raised by Government.
Systems without grants
GRTU is also urging Government to issue a scheme, not necessarily supported financially by a grant, whereby it enables families who already own a PV system to install more panels. Currently a family that opts to increase the number of panels will see its original system’s Feed in Tariff lowered to today’s rates. Given these panels were purchased at a time when prices were higher, this approach does not make sense. Government through its entities SEWCU and MRA should incentivise families who want to increase the number of panels on their roofs by providing a reasonable FIT, in line with today’s rates for systems installed without grants, independently from their old systems which should remain unaffected.
Commercial & Industrial schemes
GRTU is currently discussing final touches with various Government departments to launch a scheme directed at businesses and industry who would like to install PV systems on a commercial scale. The scheme aims to provide the necessary guarantees and finance at reduced rates.
Quality
GRTU urges all prospective clients to make sure the retailers they buy from are GRTU APPROVED. This ensures quality, safety, performance and a strong redress opportunity in case something still goes wrong.
GRTU also takes this opportunity to invite genuine non-GRTU APPROVED retailers to participate in this scheme. There is nothing to be afraid of; to the contrary the certificate instils confidence by customers in your company and provides a variety of incentives. These include promotion via press releases and GRTU website and FB page, subsidized rates for trade fair participation, participation in the upcoming commercial and industrial schemes, and participation in the PVPFS.
GRTU held an information session regarding the newly re-launched Apprenticeship and Internship Scheme Opportunities in collaboration with MCAST. This session generated interest throughout a variety of sectors and members as it provides opportunities to tap into the service of new entrants into the labour market through work-based learning. The new scheme under the management of MCAST takes the form of quality apprenticeships and internships which are based on agreed learning pathways to be of value to the students as well as the businesses hosting them.
Apprenticeships:
MQF Level 3 and 4 (comparable with O-level and A-level standard in terms of vocational training)
Allowance by employer to be given to student undergoing apprenticeship of Eur50.00 per week
Applicable tax credits of between Eur700 and Eur1200
Student undergoing apprenticeship will be working around 16 hours a week during school months and around 40 hours a week during holiday months
Internships:
MQF Level 5 and 6 (comparable with University Diploma or University Degree in terms of vocational training)
No payment obligation applies
Agreed set number of hours can span over 1 month up to 9 months
This applies to various vocational training sectors and your business can benefit directly by the services of apprentice/intern as well as by contributing to a more labour market-oriented workforce in the years to come. For further assistance and support please contact GRTU on 21232881/3or by email.
The implementation of the WEEE Directive is now round the corner. In mid April a consultation document was issued by the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change together with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The consultation document focused mainly on amendments to the Eco Contribution Act and amendments to Legal Notice 204 of 2014.
Green MT, together with GRTU Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, welcomed the draft amendments which clearly showed a commitment by Government to deliver this Budget 2015. The draft amendments included the abolishing of Eco Contribution related to electrical and electronic equipment including refrigeration and air-conditioning, heating and cooking apparatus, IT and telecommunications equipment and other related equipment.
In response to this public consultation GRTU and Green MT issued feedback document which was forwarded by 8th May 2015 as requested and agreed with Minister Hon Leo Brincat. Beyond this date only one consultation meeting was held with MEPA officials who were responsible to discuss the feedback issues provided by stakeholders and others who formed part of this consultation.
During the meeting it was established that a number of proposals put forward by GRTU and Green MT were accepted and thus amendments were made to the legislation accordingly to reflect stakeholders input including producers of WEEE and Scheme operators.
The amendments now include the definition of local agency and the relation between a Local Council and the said agency together with additionally noting that Scheme will only need to take the amount of EEE from the local agency in order to meet its producer’s obligations pro rata.
Schemes representing producers will be able to provide a recycling insurance instead of a blocked bank account. The capping for self-compliant producers has now been removed. Although legislative issues relating to MEPA’s remit were amended by MEPA itself, a number of cardinal issues that were put forward by Green MT and GRTU have as yet not been discussed further.
GRTU and Green MT continue to contend that prior to implementing the amended legislation any legal liability of producers of EEE for the period 2007 to 31st August 2015 needs to be settled once and for all. We have proposed that MEPA, being the Competent Authority at present responsible for this legislation should enter into a settlement agreement with EEE producers who had paid Eco Contribution in that period. Without this, moving on is not an option. MEPA have outlined that this needs a Cabinet decision and is not part of their remit. We insist on this issue and we duly hope that these settlement agreements are all in place by 31st August 2015.
A second issue is the cost of WEEE material being handed to a Scheme by a local agency, namely Wasteserv. It was agreed that the Minister will be the one who would decide on the final price that Schemes would take over this material, however duly hoping that the Minister does not pass the buck back to Wasteserv. In a recent meeting held earlier this week with Wasteserv officials, we were made aware that the fee to be paid by Schemes would be circa Euros 100 per tonne. At face value this is not acceptable at all and Schemes should hold firm and not accept such a fee. Schemes should not be made to pay approximately €580,000 to be given back this material. We are sure that managing WEEE in these Civic Amenity sites is not that costly. If it is, it is high time these CA sites were sent to a privatization process. Schemes need to approximately collect and recycle 42% of market placement in 2016 which is approximately 5800 tonnes based on current approximate market placement of 14,000 tonnes.
Last but not least, GRTU and Green MT have objected to anyone having a permit for a WEEE Scheme, a WEEE treatment and storage facility and at the same time having a Scrap metal facility permit. Should this remain in place it would mean the end of WEEE implementation from the very beginning. Such a situation raises concern and as such, MEPA permitting Directorate were requested to advise whether inspections have been held at this facility since December 2014, when this permit was issued. The reply stated that the facility has not been inspected since but will be inspected in the coming weeks. On receiving this answer we requested MEPA permitting directorate to provide a list of facilities inspected from January 01, 2014 to 31st December 2014. To date no answer has been forthcoming. This implies concerns on the seriousness shown by the Competent Authority who in this respect seems to issue paper or desk permits only without any further checks down the line. This is not acceptable and Competent Authorities should make sure that Environmental Legislation is adhered to at all times.
The above three issues, namely past legal liability to the WEEE Directive, the issue of cost of WEEE material being handed to Schemes, and finally the vertical permitting including a scrap metal facility need to be addressed by Government prior to initiating implementation. The past gives us good reason to believe that we are there to make sure the business community does not go through unneeded stumbling blocks, neither now or in the future in relation to WEEE implementation. Government needs address these issues now. Publishing amendments to the present legislation without tackling these three issues will present a scenario which is unacceptable to the business community. Whilst being aware that there is enough good will, this has to be reflected in action now. Proceeding without ironing out these concerns will only lead to unnecessary litigation which is not sought for by any stakeholder who is part and parcel to the implementation of this Directive.
GRTU believes that this proposal is positive in principle since it will address issues related to the negative preconceptions on women’s employment and career prospects. The fact must be highlighted that as a by-product of this fund, employers in female-dominated sectors shall benefit at the expense of employers in male-dominated sectors.
Whilst GRTU widely recognises the importance of supporting working women in their lifestyle requirements, most importantly their role as mothers, it is
also important to acknowledge that maternity leave has a big impact on small businesses. Maternity leave leads many small businesses to go through increased pressure having to make up for less human resources while still carrying the same wage cost. Some businesses go through more hardship because they need to find a replacement with the right skills and spend even more on wage costs to fill in this gap.
Still however the process is embedded in businesses` working practices and it is believed that gender does not have a significant impact on hiring decisions. However this proposal may likely result in only a marginal increase in the employment level of women. At the same time GRTU is concerned with a number of elements found in this proposal that could potentially make the measure disproportionately burdensome and harmful to business.
GRTU emphasizes that the reimbursement system will create unnecessary cash flow concerns and administrative burdens on employers which can easily be avoided if the full scope of this system is to be reaped – otherwise employers are more likely to see a financial and administrative burden of having women out on maternity leave, until the reimbursement is paid. This would also result in employers having to go through additional procedures and administrative processes to reclaim funds.
The two-fold implementation of the measure is also a concern when an employers must pay for maternity leave through increased contributions and still paying the employee during maternity leave directly. The measure will make employers pay the benefit twice until they go through the administrative procedure and get reimbursed. In addition reimbursements by Government are always a concern because of the usual lengthy timeframes. GRTU therefore is in favour of a proposal that would pay employees directly and is taken from the employer only once, without any reimbursement or administrative burden on the employer.
GRTU also outlines that since the collection of the fund is envisaged to be linked (even if indirectly) to the collection of employers’ National Insurance Contributions, this should not develop into a precursor for future increases of imbalance on NI contributions against the employer. It should also be assured that the system does not incur additional unnecessary burdens on employers to implement this, such as expenses for payroll software. It would already be deemed a burden on employers and therefore all necessary measures have to be taken to ensure that no additional expenses are put on the employer.
Whilst analyzing maternity provisions and the participation of women in employment GRTU believes that Government should also seriously consider easing the financial strain on small businesses complying with maternity provisions. The support can be in the form of tax breaks or subsidies. The challenges small businesses faces to implement maternity measures are significant and they should be supported while they in turn are supporting their employees and trying to safeguard the sustainability of their business.
Last but not least, GRTU requests that the workings that led to the 0.3% rate increase would be made public. Moreover, in case of future revisions of the rate this has to take place in consultation with social partners concerned, within a stipulated framework and timeframe, to avoid unexpected instability on business’ budgets.
A roundtable conference was held by the Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of BureaucracyHon. Anthony Agius Decelis, and the Minister of Tourism Hon. Edward Zammit Lewis. During this discussion the Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of Bureaucracy stressed the importance of simplifying bureaucracy in every sector and especially in
tourism industry as it is a strong pillar in the Maltese economy. Mr Agius Decelis believes that through simplification, entities will be able to give better services which will not only improve the efficiency of the entity but alsoenhance the experience of the recipient.
Focusing on the tourism industry, Minister Zammit Lewis emphasised that through the new policy limiting the adjustment on the height of building, 3 to 5 star hotels that are situated in touristic zones will be permitted to build two additional floors to their establishment. This policy has been praised by hotel establishments which will be allowed to continue to invest in their premises. The Ministry has also founded the Foundation for Tourism Zones Developments. Through this foundation the Ministry aims to maintain and improve the environment of touristic zones whilst also preserving the efficiency of every public zone.
GRTU Deputy President Philip Fenech was pleased with the initiative however urged that the Foundation for Tourism Zones Development should have a round-the-clock rapid intervention phone number during the touristic peak season. This will allow the foundation to be contacted immediately and fast-track any work that needs to be carried out. Mr Fenech also mentioned that due to tourism figures being on the increase it is becoming more and more difficult to find staff to service the needs of the industry. With a growing demand for Maltese workers in the industry and processes to employ foreign workers having become rather slow and cumbersome, it is of essence that all efforts are made by the all quarters in order to promote tourism and hospitality as a sector. The image of the industry has to be lifted in such a way that it is seen to offer a respectable option for a career in order to attract a new generation of students who perceive this industry as a career path rather than a mere seasonal job.
An MCESD meeting held last Monday 1stJune discussing the American University of Malta project was addressed by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, Economy Minister Dr Chris Cardona and Environment Minister Leo Brincat.
Minister Bartolo introduced the project as reflecting government’s economic vision to strengthen the economy and internationalise the higher education sector. Having 17% of all students based in Malta following private tuition and another unaccounted number of Maltese students following studies overseas, shows that there is potential in this market both for Maltese as well as to attract more foreign students to our islands. Minister Bartolo reacted to the three main concerns raised from an education point of view, namely that due to this project: education quality standards are going to be lowered to accommodate the investors; there is not going to be an element of research as is required of an university; and that the recent changes in the legislation where made to allow government to grant education licenses directly without the necessary requirements and processes. Minister Bartolo insisted that there is in fact going to be a strong element of research at the AUOM and that the amendments presented though a recent legal notice give further powers to the National —>> P. 3 << P . 1—Commission for Further and Higher Education and not the government. He explained that the AUOM will be focusing on Engineering, Communications, IT and Medical Science.
Economy Minister Chris Cardona emphasised that studies show that the average income of families in the South Region of Malta is 11% lower when compared to other regions. It is expected that this project builds on the government’s economic vision and has a substantial income on Malta, particularly the South with an estimated EUR 115 million investment across three years bringing to Malta around 4000 foreign students raising the profile of our higher education provision. These students are expected to pay around EUR 12.5 million in tuition fees and spend EUR 1.8 million on property rental. Studies based on the UK show that foreign student influx generates further tourism income brought by family visits whilst the students are expected to spend around EUR 15,000 per year. The same studies show that every EUR 1.00 spent on tertiary education repays the economy with EUR 2.50.
Minister Leo Brincat focused on the broadening of the notion of sustainable development which is based on economic, social, environmental and even cultural developments and not tied on environment on its own without considering the others, or vice versa.
GRTU believes that any for of foreign investment should be welcomed and supported as this brings in economic benefits to all and therefore strongly welcomes such as project which is expected to generate business. On the other hand GRTU sees that such development (and any other) on ODZ should not be the solution. Government has ample capacity to find another solution which does not affect ODZ.
L-Onorevoli Dalli rreferiet ghal dan l-premju bhala pozittiv fejn is-sidien tal-hwienet jgharfu aktar il-bzonnijiet tal-konsumatur. Il-bejgħ onlineillum huwa wiehed mill-problemi li qeghdin jiffaccjaw is-sidien tan-negozzju. L-Onorevoli Dalli hegget lis-sidien sabiex jegħlbu din l-isfida permezz ta’ esperjenza aktar attraenti fejn l-konsumatur jkollu aktar xelta, jinvestu u jadattaw għall-bejgħ onlajn ukoll.
Dan l-premju ser ikun qed joħloq kompetizzjoni bejn il-ħwienet aktar minn qatt qabel għaliex permezz ta’ dan is-servizz ser tkun qed tiġi mtejba l-esperjenza tax-xiri mill-ħwienet u l-esperjenza ta’ wara l-bejgħ. Is-Marcel Pizzuto, Chairman, MCCAA filwaqt li qabel mall-Onorevoli Dalli qal li dan l-premju ser ikun qed jippremja lill-ħwienet li jħabirku biex jagħtu servizz dejjem aħjar lill-konsumatur.
Is-Sinjura Joyce Borg, Direttur Generali, MCCAA qalet li l-Awtorità tal-Konsumatur hija kommessa biex tinforma u tgħin kemm lill-kummerċjant kif ukoll lill-konsumatur. Hija qalet li flimkien mall-GRTU l-assoccjazzjoni li tirraprezentha lis-sidien tal-hwienet ilha ghal dawn l-ahhar snin tahdem sabiex tilhaq l-ahjar kompromess bejn is-sidien u l-konsumatur. Is-Sinjura Borg stqarret li din il-kampanja ser tkun qed tisħaq biex jitjieb aktar l-customer carepermezz ta’ djalogu u japplika kemm għal min ibigħ prodott kif ukoll ghal dak li jaghti servizz.
Il-Premju għal Servizz bi Tbissimajirrikonoxxi lil dawk il-ħwienet li qed joffru servizz tajjeb ħafna lill-klijenti tagħhom u qed iħabirku biex titjieb ir-relazzjoni bejn il-konsumatur u l-kummerċjant. Fl-istess waqt dan il-Premju jinkoraġġixxi u jippromwovi prattiċi ta’ negozju li huma ta’ benefiċċju għall-konsumaturi
In-negozju li japplika ma jridx ikun qed jiġi investigat, jew ġie investigat minn xi Awtorità regolatorja u nstab ħati ta’ ksur ta’ liġi għal perjodu ta’ erba’ snin qabel ma japplika. L-ebda awtorità regolatorja, jew għaqda tal-konsumaturi, ma tkun ħarġet xi public warning statementfil-konfronti tan-negozju li qed japplika għal perjodu ta’ sentejn qabel ma tkun saret l-applikazzjoni
Regolamenti biex wieħed japplika għal dan il-Premju
Dawk li japplikaw għal dan il-Premju jridu jkunu qegħdin josservaw il-kodiċi ta’ kondotta marbut ma’ dan il-Premju. Dan il-kodiċi jirrappreżenta ċ-ċiklu tal-proċess tax-xiri kollu.
Kodiċi ta’ kondotta:
a. L-applikanti għandhom relazzjoni tajba mal-klijenti
b. Josservaw ir-regolamenti kollha applikabbli.
c. Jaċċertaw li l-istabbiliment huwa aċċessibbli u sigur.
d. Jirreklamaw/jipprovdu informazzjoni ċara u korretta inkluż il-prezz li ma tqarraqx bil-konsumaturi.
e. Jifhmu tajjeb lill-klijenti u jagħtuhom pariri skont il-ħtiġijiet tagħhom.
f. Jindikaw u jikkwotaw il-prezz finali li se jħallsu l-konsumaturi, kemm fl-istabbiliment kif ukoll waqt li qed jinnegozjaw kuntratt mal-konsumaturi. Il-prezz għandu jinkludi wkoll kull taxxa u spejjeż oħra u għandhom jagħtu irċevuta.
g. Fil-każ ta’ lmenti mill-konsumaturi, l-kummerċjanti jirrispondu b’mod pożittiv u jsolvu l-problema fi żmien reġjonevoli.
h. Jevitaw fejn ikun possibbli li l-ilmenti ma jaslux għand it-Tribunal Għal Talbiet tal-Konsumaturi billi jagħżlu li jsibu soluzzjoni xierqa permezz talmedjazzjoni.
i. Jipprovdu servizz ta’ wara x-xiri adegwat.
j. Meta tingħata garanzija kummerċjali, ma taffettwax iddrittijiet legali tal-konsumatur.
Kif għandha ssir l-applikazzjoni
Biex wieħed jidħol għal dan il-premju jrid jimla l-applikazzjoni li trid tinġabar bejn il-21 ta’ Mejju u 5 ta’ Ġunju 2015 mill-Uffiċċju tal-Awtorità Maltija għall-Kompetizzjoni u Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur jew titniżżel minn fuq il-websajt tal-Awtorità: www.mccaa.org.mt.
Rebbieħa
Ir-rebbieħa jitħabbru nhar il-Ġimgħa, 18 ta’ Settembru 2015 f’ċerimonja li ssir biex jitqassmu l-premjijiet.
Se jkun hemm tliet rebbieħa: L-ewwel premju: trofew biex jinżamm fil-ħanut għal sena u l-użu tal-logo tal-Premju u jingħata għarfien fuq il-media għall-ħanut rebbieħ kif ukoll trofew forma ta’ plakka biex jinżamm fil-ħanut. It-tieni premju u t-tielet premju: trofew u ċertifikat tal-premju mogħti.
Il-parteċipanti kollha se jingħataw taħriġ bla ħlas mill-Awtorità Maltija għall-Kompetizzjoni u Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur. Jingħata ċertifikat għal min jattendi dan it-tahrig b’seccess.
Aktar informazzjoni
Lil dawk in-negozji li japplikaw se ngħaddulhom numru ta’ kwestjonarji biex jitqassmu u jimtlew mill klijenti tagħhom. Dawk il-konsumaturi li jipparteċipaw u jagħtu d-dettalji tagħhom jidħlu biċ-ċans li jirbħu wieħed minn tliet premijijiet ta’ €250-il wieħed. Il-kwestjonarji mimlija għandhom jintbagħtu bil-posta jew jitwasslu personalment fl-indirizz t’hawn taħt jew fl-Uffiċċju tal-Konsumatur ta’ 47A Triq Nofsinhar il-Belt Valletta, jew l-Uffiċċju tal-Konsumatur, Pjazza San Franġisk ir-Rabat Għawdex sa mhux aktar tard minn nofsinhar tal-5 ta’ Lulju 2015.
Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar il–premju għal Servizz bi Tbissima, wieħed jista’ jikkuntattja lill-Awtorità Maltija għall-Kompetizzjoni u Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur billi jibgħat imejl fuq jew iċempel fuq 2395 2000.
GRTU welcomes the new strategy on better regulation aimed at delivering better rules with better results. The Better Regulation Agenda was adopted by the European Commission on the 19th of May and it was both drafted and announced by First Vice President Timmermans.
GRTU believes this is an important step forward in improving regulation as a way of ensuring that the burdens on the economy are kept to the minimum, and the scope for business to create new jobs and growth broadened.
SMEs play the important role of fostering competitiveness, innovation, purchasing power and employment. This however can only be achieved if regulation strikes the right balance of effectiveness and avoids burdens for which consumers have to pay for out of their pockets, and from which business have fewer resources to create new jobs.
99% of businesses are SMEs, on whom regulation bears particularly heavily. GRTU has long campaigned for a high quality regulatory framework with evidence-based legislation and a rigorous application of the SME test. We are happy to see that the Commission will take a proactive approach to the needs of SMEs, and require timely consultation at each stage of proposing legislation, and explanation of how they have taken account of views expressed.
Regulation needs to be appropriate for all businesses, big and small.
The idea of inception impact assessment, allowing stakeholder input from the earliest stages of considering new legislation, the new consultative tool “Lighten the Load – Have Your Say” and the new REFIT stakeholder platform are particularly welcome in this respect.
A vital part of the package for business is the new push to eliminate member states’ gold-plating the implementation of EU legislation.
Gold-plating has a double effect on costs for business, and thus for consumers: it adds costs to compliance with those specific national rules, and by fragmenting the single market, creates additional inefficiencies which again, the consumer ends up paying for.
GRTU looks forward to see it fully implemented at national level and we augur that the Commission will use all instruments at its disposal, including national surveys and the European Semester, to address these obstacles to realising the potential of the single market to the full.
We hope that The European Parliament and Council will commit to pursuing better regulation and assessing the impact on the wider economy of the decisions they take. We therefore hope that they will embrace Vice-President Timmermans’ initiative of a new Inter-Institutional Agreement on better regulation.
