Category: Archive – 2013

The project Healthy Mind for Healthy Business was presented
within the Operational Programme II Operational Programme II: Empowering People
for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life, under the Cohesion Policy
2007-2013.  The project is part-financed
by the European Union from the European Social Fund (ESF).

The project consists primarily of raising awareness on
mental health issues in the workplace. 
Its activities focus on enterprises and employees, and are intended to
generate positive attitudes towards mental health as an essential prerequisite
for employee well-being and personal development, but also for the success of
businesses themselves.

Richmond Foundation is the applicant and coordinating
partner of the project.  Other partners
include the Malta Employers Association, Malta Chamber Foundation, Gozo
Business Chamber, GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs, as well as the Occupational
Health and Safety Authority.  The
partners bring into the project a wealth of experience and expertise in their
respective areas of operation.

The project includes a research component, in which a
number of audits will be conducted among enterprises which will analyse the
working environment and any current policies in place.   The project activities and results will also
be monitored and evaluated throughout the project.  Towards the end of the project, a second
audit will assess the effectiveness of the activities in sensitising
enterprises to mental health issues and the need for policies to deal with
them.  

The project will attempt to improve the working environment
of enterprises that do not have a mental health policy in place.  It will produce guidelines for enterprises on
how they can go about formulating and implementing effective mental health
strategies, and will encourage businesses to participate in the training
sessions that will offered as part of the project's training component.

By engaging in targeted capacity building initiatives, the
project seeks to foster a supportive culture that will equip organisations with
the necessary tools to enable them to increase their knowledge on mental health
problems in their workplace.  An
Empowerment Programme, dealing with the development of a mental health policy
at the workplace, will be delivered by Richmond trainers to people in key
positions.  Further training will be
provided to Richmond personnel on how to run and manage the helpline for
enterprises.

The activities and results of the project will be
communicated to stakeholders and the general public using a mix of different
media, including printed material, billboards, and electronic media.  The project will make full use of online
communication channels such as social networking sites and email.

The experience gained during implementation of the activities
will lead up to the formulation of specific policy recommendations.  These will be presented during a final
conference, which will also provide a forum where the findings and results of
the interventions will be critically analysed and discussed.  The recommendations of the final conference
will be included in the final report, which will be published and will be
presented to a number of stakeholders and policy-makers working in the mental
health sector.

Tender No. HM/01: Provision of Research, Procedures Manual, Monitoring and
Policy Recommendations for the Project Healthy Mind for Healthy Business (ESF
3.193) includes services in connection with the research component, in which a
number of audits will be conducted among enterprises in order to analyse the
working environment and any current policies in place.  The service also includes monitoring of the
project results, as well as recommendations for enterprises and policy makers.

Tender No. HM/02: Provision of Awareness Raising Campaign for the Project:
Healthy Mind for Healthy Business (ESF 3.193) includes services in connection
with the communication and dissemination component of the project.

Both tender documents may be downloaded from the Richmond
Foundation website: http://www.richmond.org.mt/healthymind?l=1

The project will run from the first
quarter of 2013 until the end of 2014.

GRTU, as host
of a Europe Direct Information Centre (EDIC,) together with the European
Commission Representation in Malta inaugurated the new Europe Direct Valletta's
office. Paul Abela, GRTU President,
opened the event by stating how honoured the GRTU is to host this office and
thanked the Commission for this opportunity.

He referred to the last
citizenship survey conducted by the EU, where 76% of the Maltese said they feel
European, 53% said they feel they are aware of their rights as EU citizens, and
75% stated they would like to know more about such rights. These figures are all above
the EU average. Mr Abela said that communicating Europe is something the GRTU
has been doing for a long time with enterprises and now, with the new office,
it will be targeting the citizen in general. He reminded, however, that within
enterprises there are still citizens, consumers, workers and families.

A presentation on Europe Direct
Valletta was delivered by Abigail Psaila Mamo, who is responsible for the
office. There are 500 centers for 500 million citizens across the whole of the
EU. Malta has 3 offices and these offices are funded by the European Commission
as part of its efforts to be closer to citizens, inform citizens directly on
what the EU is doing, and to gather feedback from citizens. Among the services
offered by Europe Direct Valletta, which are all free of charge, there is a
dedicated area equipped with IT facilities and internet access, a website that
is user-friendly, and appealing, a Facebook page, a newsletter, and space where
activities can be held.

GRTU's Director General, Vincent
Farrugia, said that GRTU's work on the EU is already very intensive and thanks
to its membership on the EESC, it also represents and communicates to the
Maltese directly. He said that another recent opportunity included GRTU's
direct lobbying on the Framework Agreement on Youth Employment at European
level.

Mr Martin Bugelli, Head of the
European Commission Representation in Malta, said that rights are meaningful
only when citizens are informed about them and when access to such information
is ensured. He pointed out that the EDICs were chosen not only on the
basis of geographic coverage but also according to the nature of the audience
the host organisations reach. Recently, a Europe Direct Information Centre was
launched in Gozo, and another is expected to be launched shortly in Malta's
central region. He said he was convinced that the team at GRTU has the will and
the capabilities to deliver on its task as a Europe Direct Centre. Mr Bugelli
also mentioned that this is the European Year of Citizens and referred to the
coordinated initiatives being undertaken by the European Commission
Representation, together with the European Parliament Information Office and
MEUSAC.

The Government
has been in action for two months. Malta has proved what a healthy and mature
democracy we are. The change of Government came and hardly anybody noticed. The
notice that the business community wanted to see has unfortunately also not
happened. We want a change in the business climate, in the business
performance.

GRTU is
meeting Ministers individually and is presenting to each Minister a dossier
with a package of proposals for immediate action. Business is dynamic. It is
positive action that GRTU is requesting.

Among
the priority demands of GRTU:

–  Reduction of Bank interest on business loans and reduction of
excessive bank charges. The supernormal profit banks are making is simply not
reflective of the state of business in general

–  Reduction on excessive charges imposed on credit cards to retailers
on services provided by business for onward transactions to consumers

–  Reduction of Water and Electricity charges to businesses. It is
unacceptable that Enemalta and Water Corporation continue to enjoy
anti-competitive discriminatory, high charges on commercial entities. This is
cross-subsidization which is not acceptable under EU Rules.

–  Reduction of MFSA charges. Some years back a joke of an exercise
was conducted by MFSA to reduce charges on businesses. All business owners of
micro and small firms know that MFSA charges are excessive and a burden that is
grossly unjust.

–  Reduction of Port Charges in spite of all the exercises done by the
ex-Maritime
Authority and Transport Malta port charges at the Maltese ports still remain
too high. Malta transport has completely failed to make any difference.

–  Reduction
in the abuse of illicit trading of goods to Malta from European Ports. GRTU
wished for the same rules in other EU ports to apply in Malta. The truth is
that the law is the same as in States where Guardia di Finanza takes
enforcement action to ensure compliance. In Malta however abuse is so rampant
that today a high ratio of trade is actually illicit and tax avoiding while the
authorities turn a blind eye.

–  Reduction
in communication charges to business by the communication service providers.
Businesses pay Maltese providers Go, Vodafone, Melita, etc… excessive charges
compared to their competitors in the rest of the EU. MCA needs now to wake up
and act.

The list is
longer, but these are issues that our members want to see settled now that most
posts are revamped with new blood.

 

 

Wholesale
and retail trade businesses accounted for 19.3 % of the total registered
business units in 2012. In
2012, registered business units amounted to 70,782, an increase of 2.1 %, or
1,461, over the amount recorded in 2011. Business units are predominantly
solely owned or in partnership. These amounted to 42,035 registered units and
accounted for 59.4 % of the total.

Limited
liability companies represented 37.3 % of all units, a 4.9 % increase when
compared to 2011. By economic activity, the number of business

units
in wholesale and retail trade, except that of motor vehicles (NACE divisions 46
and 47 combined), amounted to 19.3 % of all business units, up by 2.0 % from
2011.

Furthermore,
registered business units in crop and animal production, specialized
construction activities, food and beverage service activities and activities of
head offices; management consultancy activities amounted to 4.5, 5.5, 4.4 and
4.6 % respectively of the total registered units in 2012.

By
size class, 97.1 % of business units employ fewer than 10 persons and are
considered micro. On the other hand, only 83 enterprises in Malta employ more
than 250 persons and are classified as large.

 

 

The structure of the EU – The
structure of the European Union does not fall into any traditional legal
category. It is historically unique, and its decision-making system has been
constantly evolving for the past 60 years.

The
Treaties are the basis for the regulations, directives and recommendations
which have direct impact on the daily lives of EU citizens. These laws are the
result of decisions taken by the Council (representing national Governments),
the European Parliament (representing the people) and the European Commission (a
body independent of EU Governments that upholds the collective European
interest).

The European Council:

It
is the EU's top political intuition. It consists of the Heads of State or
Government of all the EU member countries, plus the President of the European
Commission. It normally meets four times a year, in Brussels. It has a
permanent President who is elected for a period of two and a half years and can
be re-elected once.

The
European Council fixes the EU's goals and sets the course for achieving them.
It provides the impetus for the EU's main policy initiatives. Besides, it
tackles current international problems via the "common foreign and security
policy".

The Council:

It
is also known as the Council of Ministers and is made up of ministers from the
EU's national governments. The member states take it in turns to hold the
Council Presidency for a six-month period. Every Council meeting is attended by
one minister, depending on the topic on the agenda, from each EU country.

The
Council's main job is to pass EU laws, a responsibility shared with the
Parliament, as is the adoption of the EU budget. The Council has to agree
unanimously on important questions such as taxation, amending the Treaties or
allowing a new country to join the Union. In most other cases, qualified
majority voting is used (if a specified number of votes are cast in favour).

 

The European Parliament (EP):

It
is the elected body that represents the EU's citizens and for which members are
elected every five years. The major debates are held in the monthly Plenary
Sessions in Strasbourg and sometimes even in Brussels. Its main Secretariat is
however based in Luxembourg and Brussels.

The
EP takes part in the legislative work of the EU in two ways:

–
Via co-decision, which is the ordinary legislative procedure. The EP shares
equal responsibility with the Council for legislating in all policy areas that
require a "qualified majority" vote in the Council.

–
Via the "assent" procedure, the EP must ratify the EU's international
agreements.

The
EP shares with the Council equal responsibility for adopting the EU Budget
(proposed by the Commission). It can reject the proposed Budget as it has done
on several occasions. The EP can also reject or approve the European Council's
nominee for the post of Commission President. The EP also interviews each
proposed member of the Commission before voting on whether to approve the new
Commission as a whole. The EP also supervises the day-to-day management of EU
policies by putting oral and written questions to the Commission and the
Council.

The European Commission:

The
EC alone has the right to draw up proposals for new EU legislation, which it
sends to the Council and Parliament for discussion and adoption.

The
Commission consists of a Commissioner per member state (27), chosen from among
the leading personalities of the member state. The members are appointed for a
five-year term.

The
EC enjoys a substantial degree of independence in exercising its power. It
represents and defends the interests of the EU as a whole. As "Guardian of the
Treaties", it has to ensure that the regulations and directives adopted by the
Council and Parliament are being implemented in the member states.

The Court of Justice:

It
is located in Luxembourg, is made up of one judge from each EU country,
assisted by eight            advocates-general. The Court's role
is to ensure that Eu law is complied with and that the Treaties are correctly
interpreted and applied.

The European Central Bank

It
is located in Frankfurt and is responsible for managing the euro and the EU's
monetary policy. Its main task is to maintain price stability in the euro area.

The Court of Auditors

It
is located in Luxembourg, was established in 1975. It has one member from each
EU country. It checks that all the European Union's revenue has been received
and all is expenditure incurred in a lawful and regular manner and that the EU
budget has been managed soundly.

The European Economic and Social Committee
(EESC):

The
Council and Commission consult the EESC. Its members represent the various
economic and social interest groups that collectively make up ‘organised civil
society', and are appointed by the Council for a five-year term.

The Committee of the Regions (COR):

The
COR consists of representatives of regional and local government proposed by
the member states and appointed by the Council for a five-year term. The
Council and Commission must consult the CoR on matters of relevance to the
regions, and it may also issue opinions on its own initiative.

The European Investment Bank (EIB):

The
EIB, based in Luxembourg, provides loans and guarantees to help the EU's less
developed regions and to help make businesses more competitive.

 

 

      21 228 843

GRTU, Exchange Building, Republic Street,
Valletta

The international press reports
that the EU is to restrict the use of three pesticides for up to two years amid
fears they cause serious harm to bees. Divided EU governments failed to come to a
clear decision at a meeting yesterday, leaving it up to the European commission
to take action, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It says the move comes after scientists
suggested that neonicotinoid pesticides, which are widely used in the EU, pose
a "high acute risk" to bees.

The Telegraph points out that Brussels
"overruled British opposition" to the ban and claims the new rules
subject farmers to tight restrictions.

According to the paper, the ban could cost
Europe's farmers more than €2bn and lead to 20 per cent losses of key crop
yields.

Health and consumer commissioner Tonio Borg is
quoted as saying, "Since our proposal is based on a number of risks to bee
health, the commission will go ahead in the coming weeks.

He added, "I pledge to do my utmost to
ensure that our bees, which are so vital to our ecosystem and contribute over
€22bn annually to European agriculture, are protected."

The Guardian says that the suspension is a
landmark victory for environmental campaigners and represents a serious setback
for chemical producers who are set to lose billions yearly.

A statement from Syngenta, which makes one of
the three neonicotinoids, said, "The proposal ignores a wealth of evidence
from the field that these pesticides do not damage the health of bees."

The company called on the commission to focus
on addressing "the real reasons for bee health decline: disease, viruses
and loss of habitat".

The FT reports that the ban, believed to be the
first continent-wide moratorium on neonicotinoids, will take effect from 1
December unless any new scientific evidence emerges.

Workshop
1:  Innovation
in business – Topic: Innovation is the
development of new values through solutions that meet new requirements;  it differs from invention in that innovation
refers to the use of a better and, as a result, novel idea or method, whereas
invention refers more directly to the creation of the idea or method
itself.   Innovation also differs from
improvement in that innovation refers to the notion of doing something
different rather than doing the same thing better.

 

Date:               17th April

Time:               3pm to 4pm

Speaker: Ing David Dingli,
Resource Productivity Consulting Services

Workshop
2: Family Businesses: Developing Governance for
Successful Transitions

Date:               17th April

Time:               4pm to 5pm

Speaker: Mr. Mario Duca, Family
Business Consultant and Chairman of the Malta Association of Family Enterprises

Topic: While many family owned
businesses have a long-term objective of "passing the business on to the next
generation", in reality, only about 30% of family owned businesses successfully
transfer to the second generation. Furthermore, only about 15% make it to the
third generation,  and only about 5% make
it to the fourth generation. Why are so many family businesses unsuccessful at
making the transition to the next generation? 
Possible underlying reasons will be discussed at this workshop.

Workshop
3: Procurement Opportunities in the World Bank

Date:      18th April

Time:    3pm to 4pm

Speaker: Mr. Gilles Garcia,
Enterprise Outreach Services, World Bank

Topic: Mr Garcia from the Paris
office of the World Bank will be visiting Malta to generate further awareness
about the business opportunities available to SMEs who wish to offer their
products and services to the World Bank agencies.

 

Workshop
4: B2B Social networking: 9 Ways to Boost Relationships,
Opportunities and Your Bottom Line

Date:               18th April

Time:               4pm to 5pm

Speaker: Ms. Heather Cooper,
Social Media Strategist, Integratesocial.com

Topic: According to a recent
report from the Content Marketing Institute, 87% of B2B marketers now spread
their message through social media. However, less than half of those
organizations are seeing their efforts pay off. Are you one of these?  In this session, we introduce you to several
tactics and techniques that you can implement today to begin seeing real
results tomorrow.

 

All sessions will be held at the Radisson
Blu Hotel, St Julians, but you need to register:

The Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) in
collaboration with the Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority (LGA) will be
organising a consultation session on a Communication from the European
Commission entitled ‘Towards a comprehensive European framework for online
gambling.'

This consultation will mainly focus on giving a
clearer insight on the online gaming industry which is so relevant to Malta and
the EU in general. It will also focus on several priority areas needed to
address the challenges in the EU namely:

– ensuring compliance of national regulatory
frameworks with EU law;

– enhancing administrative cooperation and
efficient enforcement;

– protecting consumers and citizens, minors and
vulnerable groups;

– preventing fraud and money laundering; and

– safeguarding the integrity of sports and
preventing match-fixing.

 

Please
register for this session at:

Proceedings
will be held in English.

Responding
to a drop in euro zone inflation well below its target level and rising
unemployment, the ECB lowered its main rate by a quarter percentage point to a
record low 0.50 percent. ECB
President Mario Draghi, promising to provide as much liquidity as euro zone
banks need well into next year and to help smaller companies get access to
credit, also indicated that some policymakers had pushed for a bigger cut.

The
ECB was also "technically ready" to cut its deposit rate from the
current zero percent into negative territory, meaning it would start charging
banks for holding their money overnight.

Such
a move could encourage the banks to lend out money rather than hold it at the
ECB, though it would also probably have a big impact on banks' own operations and
major implications for funding and bond markets.                 

Draghi said the ECB could cope with these –
a departure from his previous statements." There are several unintended
consequences that may stem from this measure," he said of a negative
deposit rate. "We will address and cope with these consequences if we
decide to act. And we will again look at this with an open mind and we stand
ready to act if needed. Thursday's cut in the main rate had been widely
expected after Draghi said last month that the ECB stood ready to act, but few
economists expect it to make a decisive difference.

Acknowledging
that, the ECB said it would prime banks with as much liquidity as they need
until at least July 2014 and look at ways to boost lending to smaller
companies, which are the lifeblood of Europe's economies but have been starved
of credit in many countries.

SMALL COMPANIES, BIG PROBLEM

The
ECB wants to improve the transmission of its monetary policy so its low rates
reach all corners of the euro zone.

The
bloc's south is not benefiting to the same extent as the north from the
ultra-low rates. If they are lending at all, banks there are charging companies
and households more for loans than their peers in the north because of higher
funding costs and credit risks.

The
ECB has repeatedly voiced its concern about the impact this has on lending to
small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have little alternative to
bank funding. The ECB wants to revive an asset class that has widely been blamed
for causing the financial crisis – asset-backed securities (ABS).

This
asset class allows banks to pass at least some of the credit risk on to other
investors as they try to boost their capital and liquidity buffers to adapt to
new regulatory standards – one reason for their reluctance to lend.

"The
Governing Council decided to start consultations with other European
institutions on initiatives to promote a functioning market for asset-backed
securities," Draghi said, adding that no decisions had been taken.

Berenberg
Bank's Holger Schmieding said that if other institutions, such as the European
Investment Bank, helped promote an ABS market for SME loans, the ECB could
eventually pave a way to some quantitative easing.

The
ECB could accept such packaged loans as collateral at its liquidity operations,
or even buy them outright, he said.

"If
so, this would extend the ECB's toolbox and could potentially open the way for
a little 'quantitative easing' by the ECB later on," Schmieding added.