Malta Chamber of SMEs

Il-GRTU tkompli tippressa mall-Kummissjoni Ewropeja dwar l-Ufficju tal-Kompetizzjoni Gusta ta’ Malta

Posted on 07.03.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

Il-GRTU – L-Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji ma accettatx l-pozizzjoni li hadet l-Kummissjoni Ewropeja dwar l-kas li l-GRTU resqet quddiemha dwar l-Ufficcju tal-Kompetizzjoni Gusta ta’ Malta. Il-GRTU tablet lill-Commissioner Ms Nellie Kroes responsabbli mill-Kompetizzjoni biex tizgura lil l-gvern Malti josserva ahjar ir-regolamenti tal-EU dwar il-harsien tal-kompetizzjoni gusta f’pajjizna

Il-GRTU issostni li l-Ufficcju tal-Kompetizzjoni ta’ Malta mhux jahdem sewwa u huwa ta’ detriment ghan-negozji zghar u medji Maltin u Ghawdxin. Il-GRTU trid li dan l-Ufficcju jinqata mill-burokrazija generali tal-gvern u jkun, fil-fatt, u jidher li hu, indipendenti mill-gvern tal-gurnata. Il-GRTU trid ukoll li tinstab persuna adatta biex tmexxi dan l-Ufficcju u li fl-analizi tax-xoghol li jwettaq jinghata aktar enfazi lejn il-problemi ta’ kompetizjoni fis-suq. Mir-rapporti li ghandha l-GRTU jidher li hafna negozji zghar qed ibghatu b’effett ta’ kompetizzjoni ingusta u l-Ufficcju tal-Kompetizzjoni Gusta mhux qed jiehu l-passi li jista’ jiehu biex l-kompetizzjoni fis-suq lokali tkun gusta u sostnuta.

It-text tal-ittra tal-GRTU lill-Kummissjoni Ewropeja qed tintbghat ma din l-istqarrija flimkien mall-korrespondenza li ghaddiet bejn iz-zewg nahat:

7th March 2006
Commissioner Nellie Kroes
DG Competition
European Commission
B-1049 Brussels
Belgium

Attn: Mr Philip Lowe

Dear Mr Lowe,

Re: Office for Fair Competition (Malta)

We thank you for your letter dated 26 January 2006 (D000388) relating to our concerns about the autonomy of Office for Fair Competition in Malta.

As you rightly pointed out, we acknowledge that it is up to the Member States to organize their administrative systems in their country and this obviously applies to Malta too. GRTU also recognises that as from the 1 May 2004, with the coming into force of Regulation 1/2003, the national competition authorities are part of a European Competition Network enforcing the provisions of Article 81 and 82 EC and the Commission’s modified role within that network.

However, GRTU’s concerns relate to the operational autonomy of the Malta’s Office for Fair Competition (OFC) as it affects its executive effectiveness and not its administrative autonomy. While its role and functions are essentially more critical to the national economy than those of other economic regulators, such as that of the Malta Resources Authority (for, inter alia, energy) and the Malta Communications Authority (for telecommunications), the latter regulators are operationally autonomous as required by sector specific EU law, while the OFC is not.

Currently there is what we consider a serious anomalous situation, where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Competitiveness and Telecommunications is still acting as Director General Competition and Consumer Division (including OFC) after he was promoted more than five months ago leaving a vacant position which has not been filled to date. Since Government itself is still an economic operator with 100% or majority share holdings in a number of corporations, we maintain that it is even more essential that the OFC is separated from Government’s operative divisions.

The lack of autonomy affects the operations of the OFC in more than one way. Malta is a small country and we are noting that the possibility of capture, including political, is not a
remote possibility but a real and tangible risk. Moreover, the personnel employed by the OFC, including those in the most senior decision-making positions, are civil servants with civil service salaries due to their forming part of same public service. Since these are significantly less than those of the other regulatory authorities and the entities they regulate, they affect the recruitment potential of the OFC and its attractiveness for qualified personnel, leaving it under-resourced of the required expertise. The OFC is also the only economic regulator in Malta who does not employ the services of qualified economists on its investigative teams despite the increased importance given to economic efficiency tests in EC competition rules. In our view this situation is further compounded by the lack of transparent guidelines on the OFC’s application of competition rules. All of these factors dampen both the thrust and the effectiveness of the OFC’s enforcement of competition rules in Malta and are of great concern to us and the SME population in Malta.

GRTU is also aware of instances where the Competition Commission (Malta) itself has criticised the conduct of the OFC; such as when the latter suspended their legitimate investigation of a dominant company because the latter complained. We also note that a number of OFC decisions are appealed which has dented the credibility of this Office with the business and customer communities in Malta.

Therefore, while GRTU respects “the wide variation which exists in the public enforcement systems of the Member States”, and the Member States’ legitimate right to decide ‘which’ authority they entrust with applying Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty, we maintain that the EC Commission still has a duty to ensure that these Treaty provisions are operated and applied effectively and correctly, irrespective of ‘which authority’. In this regard, the GRTU is kindly requesting your guidance and possible intervention in ensuring that the OFC in Malta is sufficiently and adequately resourced and detached in order to fulfil its role in Malta and the EU as required by Regulation 1/2003.

Yours sincerely,

Vincent Farrugia
Director General

21st December 2005

Ms Joanne Drake
Head of Representation
EC Delegation
Villa The Vines
Ta’ Xbiex Seafront
Ta’ Xbiex

Dear Dr Drake,

Malta Office for Fair Competition

On behalf of the National Executive Council we request you to forward the following official complaint to the EU Commissioner for Competition, Ms Neelie Kroes.

Notwithstanding promises made to the representatives of the commercial and industrial sectors: GRTU Malta Chamber of SME’s – National Association of General Retailers and Traders; Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and Malta Federation of Industry, that the Malta Office for Fair Competition will no longer form part of the general public service structure but be established as a semi-autonomous Public Regulatory Office not falling under the direct responsibility of the Permanent Secretary of any government Ministry, the Government of Malta continues not to implement this commitment and retains the Office for Fair Competition as an integrated part of the civil service.

This situation has now further deteriorated as the previous Head of the Office for Fair Competition has recently been promoted to the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for Competitiveness, and the Permanent Secretary himself is today effectively the Head of the Office for Fair Competition as no Head of OFC has been specifically appointed.

GRTU, on behalf of Maltese Traders and Retailers, furthermore complains, as has been done regularly, against the present structure whereby the Office for Fair Competition rather than retained as a separate entity with specific responsibility for Competition, merger and anti-trust rules, is retained as a sub- section of the Division for Competition and Consumer Affairs within the Ministry for Competitiveness.

The effective result of this merged Civil Service structure has been that the Office for Fair Competition has lost its significance and its independent and autonomous authority.

GRTU is hereby officially requesting the Commissioner to investigate with urgency this situation as it is detrimental to the vast majority of our members who are independent private businesses heavily reliant on a competitive market under the guidance of a neutral and independent Office for Fair Competition.

GRTU furthermore, on behalf of Maltese Traders, Wholesalers and Retailers, request the Commissioner to issue directives to the Maltese government to take immediate remedial action to establish the Office for Fair Competition as an independent autonomous public regulatory authority with responsibility only for the monitoring and implementation of EU Competition, merger and anti-trust rules.

Kindly give this matter your most urgent attention.

Yours sincerely,

Vincent Farrugia
Director General

c.c – Xavier R. Durieu, Secretary General EuroCommerce

Il-GRTU titlob lil Gvern jirtira l-progett tal-Fish Farms ta’ barra n-nofsinhar

Posted on 06.03.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

Illum il-GRTU ghamlet Press Conference fejn id-Direttur Generali Vince Farrugia u l-Kunsillier tal-GRTU Reuben Buttigieg, bhala President tas-sidien tal-hwienet u negozji ta’ Wied il-Ghajn, taw ir-ragunijiet ghaliex il-GRTU hi kontra l-progett tal-Fish Farms fil-bahar barra Wied il-Ghajn.

Il-GRTU qed tinsisti mal-gvern li l-progett ghandu jkun irtirat ghax ma jaghmilx sens la ekonomikament u lanqas mil-latt ta’ ambjent. Il-GRTU qed issostni li jekk dan il-progett jitwettaq ser ikun ta’ detriment kbir ghall-izvilupp u l-kummerc ta’ Wied il-Ghajn u l-lokalitajiet ta’ madwar.

Il-GRTU qed tmexxi l-protesta taghha mal-MEPA u ‘l quddiem ukoll fuq livell Ewropew. Il-GRTU izda thoss li l-gvern Malti ghandu, bla aktar telf ta’ zmien, jirtira dan il-progett ghax hu ta’ hsara ghal Malta.

GRTU and Croatia

Posted on 03.03.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

GRTU – Malta Chamber of SME’s and the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts agree on co-operation to assist Croatian enterprises during Croatia’s Negotiations to join the EU

GRTU President Mr Paul Abela and GRTU Director General Mr Vincent Farrugia returned from Zagreb, Croatia after their participation in the Conference: “EU Challenges for Small Businesses – Experiences of New Member States”.

GRTU Director General Vincent Farrugia was one of the guest keynote speakers in the first National Conference organised by the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts part of Croatia series of initiatives leading to the successful conclusion of Croatia’ s negotiation with the EU. Croatia is currently in the screening stage of negotiations on its application to join the European Union.

On the initiative of GRTU – Malta Chamber of SME’s the Croatian Chamber representing the majority of small businesses in Croatia organised this conference to bring to the attention of its members the negotiation experience of Malta, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia in order to facilitate the adoption of the acquis communautaire by Croation trade and craft enterprises.

In his speech, GRTU Director General Vincent Farrugia emphasised the importance of the Croatia Chamber’s participation in all stages of consultations. He advised the Croatian Small Business to give utmost importance to the economic impact of these rules and regulations as whatever is accepted in the pre-accession stage will be effective in the post-accession stage. Mr Farrugia also insisted with the Croatia Chamber of small businesses to ensure that government drafts a post-accession strategy and not concentrate solely on an pre-accession strategy. Mr Farrugia assured the Croatian Chamber of SME’s that the GRTU will make available to Croatian enterprises members of the Croatian Chamber the assistance of all the experts who worked to provide Maltese enterprises with a viable negotiation position.

GRTU Malta Chamber of SME’s and Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts will in the coming days enter into a formal agreement to implement the understanding reached in Zagreb. The agreement will also provide for mutual Chambers’ support to Croatian businessmen seeking opportunities in Malta and to Maltese businessmen seeking opportunities in Croatia. The Malta Chamber will also provide all the training needed for the Chamber of Croatia to be enabled to handle effectively the negotiations consultation.

In-negozji zghar u l-importanza tal-Customer Care lil Konsumatur

Posted on 01.03.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

L-ikbar assi li kumpanija jista jkolla huma l-klienti taghha ghaliex minghajr klienti ma tistax tezisti dik il-kumpanija.

Meta l-ekonomija tibda tiddajef, hafna negozji jibda jitnaqqrilhom il-profitti taghhom, u jibdew inaqqsu mil-budgets taghhom. Imbghad jibda jitnaqqas l-impieg u jibda niezel il-moral tal-impjegati li sfortunatament jirrifletti f-servizz mhux daqstant adakwat ghal klient u jghati l-kaz ukoll illi n-negozzjant ikollu t-tendenza li jnaqqas mil-ispejjez tieghu billi joqghod lura mis-servizz li jaghti lil-konsumatur. Dan ma jaghmilx sens ghaliex huwa propju f’dawn iz-zminijiet meta s-servizz lil-klient huwa priorita aktar min qatt qabel u meta l-ghan principali tan-negozju ghandu jkun li jinzammu l-klienti leali.
Meta it-tnaqqis fil-prezzijiet mhumiex incentiv bizzejjed biex jigbed lil-klient, in-negozzjant irid ihares lejn is-servizz li joffri sabiex jakkwista il-vantagg kompetittiv fis-suq. F’Malta nghidu l-ghajta nofs il-bejgh. Dan huwa minnu izda l-ghajta tal-lum ghandha l-akbar impatt meta tigi propju minghand il-klient jew dak li llum insejhu il-konsumatur li llum jezigi li jinqeghda mhux biss min prodott imma aktar u aktar mis-servizz adakwat ghal-htigijiet tieghu. Huwa is-servizz illi jbigh illum u ghaldaqstant dik ghandha tkun il-filosofija tan-negozji taghna. Huwa s-servizz li naghtu lil-konsumatur li jghati il-competitive edge lin-negozju u li jzommu b’sahhtu f’sitwazzjoni ta’ cut throat illi llum jezisti fis-suq kompetittiv li nghixu fih mhux f’Malta biss izda fid-dinja kollha.

Il-fulkru tal-andament tan-negozju huwa propju dan is-servizz lejn il-konsumatur jew dak li nsejhulu customer care. Ghaliex fl-ahhar mil-ahhar prodott mhuwiex haga personali izda is-servizz huwa. Ghalhekk nenfasizza l-importanza li nistabilixxu aktar fil-profond kultura ta’ servizz lil klient sabiex l-intrapriza Maltija li hija l-foqol tal-ekonomija ta’ pajjizna tibqa tistghana.

Sfortunatament fid-dinja mghaggla tal-lum fejn tezisti ftit li xejn, jew ahjar fejn ma naghtux bizzejjed importanza lejn il-kuntatt uman, iz-zewg kelmiet fenomenali, customer care, huma kwazi non-ezistenti. Customer Care hija termini li tintuza izda li mhijiex ezegwita kif mehtieg. Hija termini ta’ zmien l-antik meta fil-fatt ghanda tkun dik ix-xi haga li jghamilna aktar specjali u li ggieghel lil konsumatur ihossu li ghandu jtik l-isforz li jerggha jigi ghandek biex jinqeghda.

Il-messagg li l-GRTU illum trid tghaddi lin-negozzjanti zghar u medji li hi temmen li huma s-sinsla u l-qalb tal-ekonomija Maltija, hu li jekk ahna verament irridu li fid-dinja tal-lum in-negozzju taghna jibqa haj u jitrawwem ghandha verament insaqqsu lilna nfussna x’hinu dak li jghatina is-success. Ir-risposta taghna, l-GRTU, hija ghatu l-hin u ghamlu l-isforz sabiex iggalu lil-klienti taghkom ihossuhom verament specjali. Kuni ospitabli maghhom mil-mument li jirfsu l-ghatba taghkom sakemm johorgu mil-bieb ta-barra anke jekk dawn jiddeciedu li ma jixtru xejn. L-imgieba taghkom, s-sincerita u l-ospitalita kollha jerfghu piz kbir fuq il-lealta ta’ dak il-konsumatur haga illi llum qeghda tonqos hafna. S-servizz lil-klient jinghata izda l-ospitalita genwina tinhass.

Fid-dinja mghaggla u materjalista li nghixu fiha, tislima personali kif il-klient jitfacca u li nghidu grazzi li kellu l-pjacir li jghaddi huma l-essenza li jgghalu l-klient ihossuh importanti u l-garanzija li jerggha jigi lura. Ilkoll qeghdin f-negozju ghax-xoghol. X’differenza taghmel li nghatu servizz superjuri min servizz ta’ nofs keddha? Ir-rizultat huwa li nzommu l-klienti leali, tigri l-kelma u nerbhu klienti ohra.

Sfortunatament li jigri fil-hajja tan-negozju ta’ kuljum huwa illi n-negozzjant ma jibdhiex jindaga fuq l-importanza ta’customer care sakemm il-klient ma jilmentax. Izda il-verita hija illi l-konsumatur mhux necessarjament jilmenta izda jitkellem b’saqajh billi jlebbet lejn post iehor. Dan huwa l-vot silenzjjuz tal-klient. Hafna klienti ihossu li mhumiex rispettati bil-modd li jigu trattati fuq it-telephone u hafna ohrajn ibiddlu lil-bejjiegh taghhom minhabba f’servizz fqajjar. L-ambjent ta’suq kompetittiv li fieh nghixu illum jaghmel dan estremament facli u possibli. Madankollu irridu nghatu kaz illi biex insibu klient gdid iqum madwar tlett darbiet iktar milli biex inzommu dak li diga ghandna. Billi niehdu hsieb ahjar tal-klient inzidu l-profitti taghna b’ammont sostanzjali. Huwa krucjali li mil-kbir saz-zghir gon-negozzjar taghna jifhem b’mod car illi il-konsumatur mhux bis jimporta ghan-negozzju izda huwa r-raguni ghaliex dak in-negozzju jezisti u ir-raguni ghaliex l-impjegat ghandu xogholu hemm.

Il-klient ghandu jitqies bhala ir-re konsumatur li minnu niddependu lkoll u mhux bhala il-bniedem tat-triq hu min hu. Hafna negozji jghidu illi huma ta’ servizz lil konsumatur, izda ghandna insaqsu lilna nfusna jekk dan huwiex vera minnu jew jekk ahniex qieghed inservu lilna nfusna u allura ha nitilfu it-tigrija.

Xi ftit mir-ragunijiet ghaliex hafna negozzji ma jezegwux ir-retorika ta’customer service f’realta hija illi :

· Jezisti ftit li xejn ta’ qsim tas-suq u konsumaturi;
· Tezisti ftit li xejn informazzjoni fuq il-klient;
· Il-klient mhuwiex meqjus bizzejjed fl-ghazla ta’ soluzzjonijiet illi jittiehdu;
· Nuqqas ta’ tahrig lil impjegati;
· Il-konsumatur ma jegix meqjus bizzejjed bhala bniedem uman bl-ezigenzi umani anke f’din id-dinja mghaggla.

In-negozzju jista jigi mqabbel ma loghba tat-tennis. Dawk li ma jservux tajjeb jispiccaw jitilfu. Il-prodotti li joffru l-istess linja ta-negozzju huma simili. L-unika modd illi nerbhu il-loghba hija billi nkunu nafu ahjar il-bzonnijiet tal-klient u nkunu kapaci nilhquhom aktar malajr min haddiehor li qieghed fl-istess ghalqa ta’ negozju taghna.

Jghati l-kaz illi l-klient gieli jkun difficli. Ghandna niehdu l-opportunita sabiex ngharfu ghaliex il-klient qieghed jilmenta u nuzaw dik l-informazzjoni sabiex intejjbu il-prodott u s-servizz taghna.Din ghandha tkun sfida ghalina mhux bsaten fir-roti.

Naghmlu l-ghalmu taghna illi verament nisimghu lil konsumatur u nibnu rapport mieghu. Ma ninsew qatt illi s-servizz mil-ahjar lil konsumatur huwa l-ahjar u l-irhas modd ta ghodda tal-marketing li tezisti. Meta nittrattaw lil klient anke ahjar milli qatt jista jippretendi, in-negozzjant jigi premjat.

Dawk il-klienti sodisfatti huma l-istess klienti illi ha jirrikmandawna. Izda l-oppost huwa minnu ukoll. Klient mhux moqdi tajjeb huwa dak li l-aktar li ha jghid fuqna, hafna drabi anke aktar mil-klient moqdi tajjeb. Sfortunatament dik hi ir-realta tal-hajja.

Minkejja dan, l-ahbar tajba hija illi mhuwiex daqshekk difficli li nghatu servizz tajjeb lil-klient. In-negozzjant u in-nies tieghu ghandhom ikunu:

· Accessibli;
· Jghaqdu lil-klient f’hin adakwat;
· Jisimghu lil-klient
· Jahdmu bis-serjeta fuq customer feedback;
· Jittrattaw lil-klient b’rispett;
· Ma jargumentawx mal-klient;
· Jonoraw dak li jweghdu;
· Jiffokaw fuq ir-relazzjonijiet mal-klient u mhux bejgh biss;
· Ikunu onesti;
· Jammettu meta jsir zbal;
· Jghinu lil-klient sabiex ihossu importanti u apprezzat.

In-negozzjant ghandu jibqa jistinka sabiex dejjem itejjeb ir-relazzjoni tieghu mal-konsumatur ghaliex il-bzonnijiet tal-bniedem uman dejjem qieghed jizdiedu. Customer satisfaction m’ghadhiex raguni bizzejjed valida biex klient jerga jixtri mil-istess post. Il-kelma magika li trid tigi dejjem meqjusa u ezegwita hija customer care illi tghin sabiex dak li jkun jerga jinqeghda mil-istess negozju. Illi wiehed jiehu hsieb biex izomm klient huwa s-sigriet tas-success u ta’ qligh ghan-negozju. Biex wiehed izomm lil klienti irid genwinament jiehu hsibhom u jaghmel dik ix-xi haga li taghmel differenza.

Illum hadd ma ghadu jista jidhaq b’hadd u ghalhekk importanti il-genwinita specjalment min-nies li jahdmu front line u ghaldaqstant huwa mportanti li dawn jigu mharrga b’modd kontinwu b’sistema ta’ kultura li jiehdu inizjattiva u interess personali f’xogholhom u fir-rapport li jinbena mal-konsumatur. Ghandhom jigu mharrga illi din ir-relazzjoni hija hafna aktar potenti mil-hlas ta’ oggetti li jinxtraw. Tbissima mhijiex bizzejjed izda l-entuzjazmu u d-devozzjoni li tigi mil-qalb hija l-ahjar mezz biex verament jinghata customer service efficenti. Il-commitment u s-sens ta’identita li impjegat ikollu man-negozju huwa element importanti hafna sabiex jista jinghata servizz eccelenti lil-konsumatur.

Il-mentalita ghandha tkun illi ghandna ninvestigaw il-bzonnijiet tal-klient sabiex inkunu nistghu nifmuh ahjar u naqduh ahjar. Lil-konsumatur ghandna naghmlulu it-tapit ahmar, naghtuh il-hin li jinhtieg, naghmlu l-ghalmu taghna biex naqduh, naraw dak li jara il-klient, nahdmu fuq l-esperjenzi tal-konsumatur, u nemmnu f’demmna fl-importanza tal-customer care. Ghandna nibbnu mal-konsumatur element ta’ fiducja, onesta u integrita ghax dan huwa li jassigura lealta min-naha tal-klient.

Mbaghad jekk nahsbu fit-thema ta’ din il-laqgha – il-kelma grazzi. Kelma tant zghira izda li tintuza ftit wisq. Din hija parti integrali min customer care. Hija dik illi turi lil klient li hu specjali u l-importanza tieghu ghan-negozzjant.

Li wiehed ikun kapaci jara u jirrealizza il-possibiltajiet li ohrajn mhumiex kapaci jaraw hija wahda mil-hallmarks tal-mexxejja l-kbar. Il-mexxej kapaci jara b’vista twila u minajr limiti. Ma johlomx biss izda jimmagina dak li jista jigi irrealizzat. Il-mexxej huwa dak illi kapaci jintegra lil haddiehor fir-realizazzjoni tal-holm tieghu.Il-mexxej huwa dak li kapaci jiehu azzjoni u jbiddel il-holm f’realta. Mela ejja inkunu mexxejja sodi u il-holma taghna li n-negozju jirnexxi u jibqa haj, naghmluha realta billi mil-lum naghtu importanza specjali ghal-customer care lil konsumatur li jiggarantixxi li in-negozzju taghna jibqa wieqaf u b’sahhtu.

IL-GRTU U L-KWISTJONI DWAR IT-TARIFFI TAL-ELETTRIKU U FUELS

Posted on 01.03.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

Il-GRTU tibqa’ ssostni l-kas kontra l-gvern Malti quddiem il-Kummissjoni Ewropeja dwar il-mod kif il-gvern Malti qed jimplimenta d-Direttiva Ewropeja dwar it-tariffi tal-Elettriku u Fuels.

Qieghed nibghatlek kopja tal-presentazzjoni tal-opinjoni tal-GRTU dwar il-kas. Din il-presentazzjoni saret lid-Direttur Generali tal-Energija u Trasport b’risposta ghat-talba tal-Kummissjoni permezz tal-Kummissarju Andris Piebalgs’

Servizz gdid mill-GRTU ghan-negozjanti Maltin

Posted on 26.02.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

F’seminar ta’ informazzjoni li l-GRTU zammet illum it-Tnejn, 26 ta’ Frar f’Portomaso Suite, Hilton Hotel, San Giljan, habbret servizz gdid li qed toffri lil imsiehba tal-GRTU u intraprizi ohra f’Malta.

Il-GRTU habbret Partnership Agreement li ntlahaq mad-ditta Transfinance B.V. membri tal-International VAT Association. B’dan l-agreement in-negozjanti Maltin issa jistghu juzaw is-servizzi tal-GRTU biex ikunu jistghu jirkupraw il-VAT maqbuda fuq infieq tan-negozju li jsir fil-pajjizi membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea kif ukoll infieq fuq VAT li jsir f’pajjizi ohra li wkoll ihaddmu s-sistema tal-VAT jew is-sistema ta’ GST (Goods & Services Tax) li tithaddem f’pajjizi bhal Canada u l-USA.

Id-ditta Transfinance taghmel parti mill-grupp ta’ konsulenti fiskali u finazjarji Transpass. Transfinance topera s-sistema ta’ rikuperu ta’ VAT fuq infieq li jsir barra l-pajjiz f’kull wiehed mil-pajjizi kemm membri tal-EU kif ukoll dawk li mhux membri li jhaddmu sistema ta’ VAT. Transfinance ghandha ufficini taghha l-Olanda, Germanja, Polonja, Litwanja, Cekozlovakkja, Latvja, Slovenja, Estonja u f’Malta.

In-negozjanti Maltin li attendew ghas-seminar kienu infurmati kif tahdem is-sistema ta’ refuzjoni ta’ VAT fuq l-infieq li negozji jaghmlu fuq vjaggar, akkomodazzjoni, kiri ta’ karozzi, ingagg ta’ servizzi u konsulenti u infieq iehor tal-kummerc li normalment in-negozjant Malti jsibha bi tqila biex jirrekupera mill-pajjizi fejn ikun sar l-infieq. B’koperazzjoni mal-konsulenti Transfinance u Transpass li huma esperti f’dan il-qasam, il-GRTU issa ser thaddem servizz mill-ufficini taghha gewwa Exchange Buildings, Republic Street, Valletta biex in-negozjant Malti jkun jista’ jiehu flusu lura b’anqas xkiel milli sab sa’ llum.

The Relevance of Maltaâ€™s Negotiation Experience to Croatia

Posted on 20.02.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

Malta applied to join the European Union in July 1990. Malta lost time to commence negotiations as the whole EU membership issue brought about a government crisis that necessitated two General Elections to be resolved. Malta concluded its negotiations in December 2004 and Malta became a member of the European Union in May 1, 2004.

Malta decided in favour of the EU for a number of reasons. Malta was an independent state since 1964 after almost two centuries under British rule. Malta did extremely well as an independent state, operating a neutral foreign policy and internally operating a mixed economy which was based on the best utilization of the geographic, and strategic position of Malta as a hub centre in the middle of the Mediterranean.

The mixed economy practiced by Malta gave traders practically unhindered trade liberalization on the local market, where a number of vital economic sectors were always privately owned and completely liberalized. These included commerce, retailing, services, fisheries, agriculture, real estate, transport, tourism services, crafts and small enterprise in general. The local internal market was, however, protected and it was practically impossible for foreigners to operate on the local market. Malta was very successful in attracting foreign direct investors to the manufacturing zones. More than 95% of Maltese manufacturing production is exported. This sector has always enjoyed complete liberalization. The end result of a successfully operated mixed economy was steady GDP growth.

This successful strategy however began to suffer rapid decreasing economic returns. There was clear economic evidence that in the face of globalisation and WTO induced liberalisation, the Maltese economy was entering a cul de sac. The Maltese economy effectively stopped growing and whatever growth was registered was as a result of heavy public deficit financing. This deficit financing was necessary to sustain the re development and re allocation of resources as the Maltese economy took the long hard drive towards the alternative.

The alternative was Malta’s participation in the Single European Market. This meant transforming the old Association Agreement with the European Community which Malta enjoyed since 1972 into full membership in the shortest possible time and also transforming the Maltese Economy in the shortest possible time. Politicians and state bureaucrats believe these things can just happen and forget the reality that in a dynamic liberalized economy, such a change requires tremendous financial commitments by thousands of private entrepreneurs be they small, medium or large, as well as the loss of business while change and transformation was occurring.

This is in fact

My first warning to Croatian business owners: change is costly, don’t assume it just happens and don’t assume somebody is going to compensate you unless you fight for it.

GRTU, as the Maltese national organisation with the largest number of small and medium enterprises spread all over the Island of Malta and its sister Island Gozo, was determined to see the transformation through but not at the expense of breaking the back of many business owners. This issue landed GRTU as the national voice of small businesses. GRTU started its first serious clash with government during discussions on the reform of the tax system. The EU Commission was insisting on the introduction of VAT and the removal of all customs tariffs and all other measures supporting local enterprise so that Malta could meet the EU entry requirements. It also meant the liberalization of trade licenses and the introduction of a tax audit, which then would ensure and facilitate rapid increase in tax compliance by small businesses. GRTU negotiated a good deal with government and the Maltese authorities had to pay millions of Maltese liri to our business owners as compensation for the losses they were due to suffer. GRTU also ensured that prior to any implementation of measures that effected business owners, all the process of constant and structured consultation had to be put in place and activated.

The issue was hot and serious enough to have first brought about the fall of the centre-right government as most of our members and other business owners, traditionally centre-right voters, voted against the party in government as they apprehended the negative consequences of EU membership. Then again after only 22 months in power, the downfall of the new centre-left government, due primarily to its lack of alternative policies to EU membership, and finally the subsequent return of the previous centre-right government.

This is my second warning this time to Croatian politicians:
Do not assume that small business owners will remain loyal simply because you promise them heaven in the EU. If you do not support them in a practical way and listen to them, they will turn against you.

Once the politicians learned their lessons the process of consultation moved pretty smoothly. But it was very hard. Hard on us as representatives of businesses and enterprises since we were faced with a mammoth task as we did not have the resources, financial and manpower, to sustain all the work.

GRTU took part in all the detailed discussions on negotiation positions on thirty of the thirty-three Acquis Communautaire Chapters negotiated. This Acquis Communautaire incorporates 90, 000 pages of rules and regulations that the EU Commission built over 59 years and we were expected to adopt them to suite Malta’s structure within a short period of two years. Croatia has four years. We did have some EU funds to pay for expertise, but most of it went to Government authorities. Croatia will have more; you are not only bigger but have also access to special programmes which we did not have.

My third warning is to watch out how government and state bureaucrats spend the pre-accession funds.

What government officials are good at is getting money and spending it themselves on salaries, travel, offices and whatever. Organisations representing business must ensure that as much money as possible is passed on to the private sector. The private sector in reality had to put its hands in its pockets and pay for what it needed and as a result we did not do as well as we should have done. The results are being felt now that we are in the EU. Too many directives and too many rules are being imposed at a heavy expense to businesses. These are now impositions that we did not discuss before simply because we did not have the time and the means. You should not make this mistake.

So this is my fourth warning. Do not assume that some rules and directives are important and most others are not: they all involve an increase in bureaucracy, an infringement on your time, and an addition to your costs. So be prepared to get the right advice and be able to cause government authorities, how and when, to impose at the least expense and burden to business.

The issue that caused most concern to Maltese enterprises operating on the local internal market was the opening up of the local market to foreigners. Our craft enterprises and self-employed owner-managed businesses from agriculture, fisheries, trading, retailers, construction, transport services, professional services, a list too long to mention, were all restricted to Maltese owners. Our people were hesitant to lose this protection, so we needed to create a structure that, while removing the old barriers, would, wherever possible under EU rules, create new operation limitations or obtain transition periods or derogation and wherever possible, as in the case of agriculture and fisheries, obtain direct EU funding both from the pre-accession funds and more importantly from post-accession structured funds.

The other great issue was the cost of reallocation and restructuring.

We needed to identify:
· Which sectors of enterprise would suffer unduly under the pressure of competition;
· What human resources needed to be reallocated from the public sector services that were to be privatised as well as from the private sector,

as the new opportunities expected as a result of liberalisation were opening up. This needed redeployment of people, re-training, assistance for business start-ups, reform of legislation, creation of new institutions, training for the new tasks, and for institution building and the facilitation of small entrepreneurs to bring about change without breaking their entrepreneurs’ backs.

Fifth warning: nothing happens on its own, the rule of the jungle, the fittest survive and the weak die, should not be an option. The only correct option is the smooth transition. You need institutions to manage this. You need trained people. You need fiscal and financial incentives. You must be able to negotiate this as you are moving from the Screening Stage to the Negotiation Stage.

In Malta the negotiation stage moved quite fast. Indeed today we say it was too fast. All our energies were concentrated in ensuring, first and foremost, an understanding of what the EU negotiators from the Commission wanted, and secondly, how to implement all this with a view to get more benefits than sufferings.

GRTU insisted all along on the production of economic and social impact assessments for all the proposals and changes that were being proposed by government. We also lobbied and visited European Union institutions and other organisations supportive of small and medium businesses like UEAPME, to ensure that the Commission did not impose excessively and to obtain whatever assistance was possible. Some of these studies were very good, others not so good.

Sixth warning: Get the impact assessments on all the areas that effect you. Make sure all stakeholders are contacted and that an agreed mitigation plan is drafted and activated so that the transition is done with least pain and maximum benefit.

When the final package was negotiated we then ensured that a detailed economic impact analysis was drawn by an independent outside team of economists on all the package. This is not a political document but an essential tool for the post accession strategy.

One important theme, what we as GRTU, on behalf of small and medium Maltese businesses, failed to cause government to accept was the designing of a Post-Accession Plan. We were, in my view, very good in taking up positions on most chapters and on participation at all levels that were of interests to our members and to get all the advise that we could master, but it was all geared to achieve a good Negotiated Package in the best interest of the sectors we represent and the best interests of the Maltese Economy in general. If we had also worked, as we strived for, on a Post-Accession Strategy, we would, today, be in a happier situation.

Two years after the accession the Maltese economy is still not doing well. The economists who drew the Assessment Reports at the end of the Negotiation Process, did point out that this would happen and that for the first years we will not enjoy additional growth as the economy geared itself to the new exigencies of the Single European Market. They also indicated to us and to government what needed to be done to remedy this situation. Since accession in the EU, however, government is too busy participating in all the Committees, seminars, consultations, dialogues, and a hundred of other meetings all over the EU. They are also too busy drafting and imposing the new rules and building new institutions. Some action was planned and we were pre-warned but many were not and much came to us as a surprise. GRTU is working very very hard to remedy and we will succeed as the positives are much more than the negatives but life would have been happier if after we joined we had a Post Accession Strategy to activate instead of building one as we got along.

7th warning: Insist on two teams at pre-accession stage: one working on the pre-accession documents and positions for negotiations with the EU Commission, the other on the Post-Accession Plan.

You will join the EU and you will join on good terms, I am in no doubt about this. You will also be successful as EU members and we all look forward to have you as partners. The opportunities for all of us, owners of small and medium enterprises, in the large and growing Single European Market, are so great that there is really no alternative to all of us but that of being economically active in this great and growing market. But we must be assisted so that we can make the best of it. It is a highly competitive market but also a market which is too loaded with rules, regulations and bureaucracy, that only the EU Commission is so expert at inventing.

But don’t be detracted. Like the Maltese, the Croatians are clever people. We have survived in very difficult circumstances in the past and bureaucratic hurdles do not frighten us. But be prepared. Take your time and plan your actions. My Chamber is available to help you. The team of experts we built up to help us during negotiations, is available to you too, should you require them.

In the meantime we are very active at a EU level. We have learned through our representation in the highest economic and social levels in our own country and, through our direct representative on the European Economic & Social Committee in Brussels, on the Committee of Regions, on the European Social Fund Committee and effectively with our own member in the European Parliament and through our participation in important European Organisations like UEAPME, and Euro Commerce, to ensure at European level that we aim for the best. And the best is round the corner. It does not fall from heaven. And it is what our members expect and deserve. We have, however, to work for it. You have to work for it too. Work hard and your membership of the European Union will bring to your beautiful country the greatest period of prosperity that Croatians could have ever imagined. The foundation for this success is now. Prepare yourself well. Leave no stone unturned. The EU Commission is there to help and assist but they do not come to you knocking on your door. You have to investigate, get the best advice and take action. Take a positive attitude. Make sure your members are positive about the whole process. Warn them that if they sleep they may wake up to find a very difficult time, yet if they prepare well now, they can be assured of a good future, unfortunately not for all, as some will fall under the pressure of competition. Your task is to ensure that more will grow and prosper than fail. Get the Pre-Accession Strategy right. Get the Post-Accession Strategy even better. And Croatia will prosper.

I thank you for giving me this great opportunity to address you and to be of service to you in this historical economical and political step forward in Croatia.

The Malta Jazz Festival 2006

Posted on 19.02.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

The Malta Jazz Festival 2006 will be organised by NnG promotions, a private company known for organising pop concerts of renowned singers like Elton John, Eros Ramazzotti and Claudio Baglioni. An agreement signed on the 31 January 2006 between the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and NnG promotions saw the end to what ‘is-City’ had started 16 years ago. Philip Fenech and Sandro Zerafa give their views about the privatisation of the festival and its impending mainstreaming

For:
Philip Fenech, owner of BJ’s Live Music Venue Manager/Director and BJ’s Live Music Venue Manger/Director. He is also President of the leisure and entertainment section at the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU).

The Malta Jazz Festival was held for 16 consecutive years and the credit goes to all those who have been involved in one way or another with the running of the Festival. If it were not for such a Festival and the hard work of these people, we would never have been able to witness some of the greats of contemporary music gracing a Maltese stage, nor would local musicians have had the opportunity to join these artists on stage or play with them in informal jam sessions after the festival was over, through the night at BJ’s.
Unfortunately one cannot but add that the last few years have seen a steep and steady decline in the number of people attending the Jazz Festival. This does not seem to have been just a local phenomenon but rather a global one with most, if not all major Jazz Festivals having to radically overhaul their modus operandi or risk closure. Even Jazz Festivals such as those held in Umbria and Montreux and the North Sea Jazz Festival have had to drastically change their approach and embrace a more popular attitude. Of course the jazz element still remains an integral part of their festivals, yet they have incorporated other more popular forms of music to make their Festivals economically feasible. This is what has been proposed in Malta and I cannot but fully agree that it is the only way the Malta Jazz Festival, which is dependant on both gate money and sponsors who want maximum exposure through the Festival to as many people as possible, can survive.
Maybe one of the questions that one should ask is “Was the Jazz Festival becoming too high-brow?” The attendance figures speak for themselves. This is where the Jazz Festival seemed to be losing its battle locally. The general public does not seem to have remained as attracted by the Jazz Festival as it was in the past and this is because the majority of attendees are not jazz purists. It follows that broadening the musical base of the festival in an attempt to recover a larger audience is the only way forward. The jazz purist might not be happy with this concept, however, from a cultural and educational point of view it makes perfect sense. Bringing in the numbers would also expose more people to the other artists on the bill who fit within the jazz niche, with the result being that jazz gains more fans.
I believe that this is the only option for the Malta Jazz Festival. Instead of criticising NnG Promotions, one should laud them for taking on the financial responsibility of the Malta Jazz Festival in their bid to revive it and keep it going. They have stepped in to regenerate a festival that seemed to be slowly, but surely, winding down with the risk of being wiped off our cultural calendar altogether.

AGAINST:
Sandro Zerafa is a jazz guitarist working in Paris. He holds a BA (Hons) in Music (Malta) and a Medaille d’Or in Jazz guitar from the Lyon conservatory. He placed third at the French National Jazz 2004 contest and the prestigious ‘mention speciale de jury’ for composition at the 2005 edition.

Curiosity is what started it all. 15 years ago my musical tastes did not venture beyond Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth. Down at Ta’ Liesse, jazz changed all this.
It was different, it was not love at first sight but I got hooked.
Since then, every third week of July, a 2,000 strong audience and I would go down beneath St Barbara bastions to get our annual fix of great jazz. Brian Blade, Dave Douglas, Wayne Shorter, Paul Motian …………… – well, … thanks and forever good bye.
The Jazz festival has been murdered.
“Is-City” (Charles Gatt) who made all the magic happen, “thanks and bye”; NnG
Promotions, promoters of top pop musicians will now commercialise the festival. As organisers of pop events they are great but it stops there. Pop makes money, jazz doesn’t.
Jazz has a lower audience appeal and the strength of the Malta Jazz Festival was that it offered an alternative to those who are not into the Song for Europe festival and similar run of the mill musical styles.
Mass entertainment, frivolous as it may be, seems to be high on the authorities’ agenda. Culture has no monetary value – scrap it. Is this really what we’ve come to? How can the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (MCCA) sign-off culture for so cheap?
It is a well-known fact that jazz is not very lucrative, but jazz festivals are never done for profit. The festival was above all an educational experience. After the Jazz festival I used to be bombarded by young guitar enthusiasts asking for jazz guitar classes. My point is that the festival was getting people to appreciate a different musical idiom which otherwise was absolutely not available on the island during the rest of the year.
We should promote diversity and creativity, culture should stimulate new contrasting ideas, debates and help people be inquisitive. Creative non-lucrative art should be subsidized or else it would be doomed to elitist insularity.
It seems that the new organizers of the Malta Jazz Festival are following the lines of Montreux and Nice jazz festivals, whose line-ups are mainly mainstream and pop acts, but what the MCCA and NnG have not understood is that these festivals happen in countries where there is a healthy jazz scene and hundreds of other jazz clubs and festivals throughout the year. And Montreux and Nice are definitely not representative of the European festival circuit.
In Malta there is nothing which resembles a jazz scene, there is no jazz concert season and the festival was a point of reference on the cultural accretion calendar which greatly contributed to putting Malta on the international musical circuit.

Dwejjaq minn tat-Time Share

Posted on 17.02.200608.09.2020 by SME Chamber

Ghadna fix-xitwa u l-istagun turistiku l-kbir ghadu ma bediex izda, diga n-nies tat-time share, l-aktar barranin, qed idejjqu lit-turisti kollha li jaraw fiz-zoni kollha turistici minn San Giljan, tas-Sliema, Qawra, Bugibba sal-Belt, l-Imdina u Marsascala. Idejjqu lit-turisti u jtellfu n-negozju lil tal-hwienet u negozji ohra ghax litteralment igerxu lill-klijenti.

Il-GRTU qed terga titlob pubblikament lill-Ministru tat-Turizmu u Awtoritajiet ohra koncernati biex jiehdu passi decisiv biex l-abbuzi jinqatghu.

Il-kummerc tat-time share hu business tajjeb u jgib lejn Malta ghexiren ta’ eluf ta’ turisti. Il-GRTU dejjem taght s-support taghha lill-investituri f’dan il-qasam u lil organizazzjonijiet li jorganizzaw il-bejgh tat-time share b’mod professjonali. Izda li qed naraw fit-toroq taz-zoni turistici minn certi bejjiegha tat-time share li ma jimputhom xejn mill-isem tajjeb ta’ Malta bhala destinazzjoni turistika serja u sabiha, mhux ghajr dardir u abbuz.

Il-GRTU tistenna ghalhekk li l-gvern idahhal il-mizuri adekwati kollha inkluzi l-holqien ta booths attraenti u apposta, b’postijiet li ma jkunux ta’ xkiel ghall-kummerc u stabbilimenti ohra, minn fejn il-bejjiegha tat-time share joffru s-servizz taghhom bla xkiel ghall-hadd.

Il-GRTU tappella lil gvern biex jiccaqlaq issa u ma jhallix sajf iehor jidhol bl-istess inkwiet tas-soltu.