Category: Archive – 2004

The fact also remains that the Minister of Health reneged
on his agreement with the GRTU on the manner in which smoking in indoor
leisurevenues was to be regulated. When a Minister says that one thing will
bedone and then proceeds to do something else, confidence in
the administration of the country is inevitably dented and the
Ministerwould do well to reflect on this. In this instance, the Minister
saidthat arrangements would be made to ensure that smokers and
non-smokers could be accommodated in the same establishments without the
impositionof blanket smoking bans or the construction of artificial barriers
tosocial interaction. This was not to prove the case when the
revised regulations were published, a clear instance of
Ministerialback-tracking.

The GRTU deplores this and augurs that this
sorry episode will be put behind us once and for all with the enactment of
sensible regulationsthat do not pander to the knee-jerk reactions of those
who believe thatsmoking is the most important issue in the
world.

Illum mhux bizzejjed
li s-sidien tan-negozji z-zghar ta’ pajjizna u s-self employed jirsistu permezz
tal-GRTU li dak li jwieghed l-gvern Malti favur l-intraprizi z-zghar jwettqu u
jkun lest b’inizjattivi godda favur iz-zghar, izda hu mportanti ferm li x-xoghol
ta’ lobbying isir bis-sahha wkoll fi Brussels.

Il-GRTU illum ghandha
rapprezentanza diretta fl-ghola istituzzjoni ta’ kunsultazzjoni li l-Kummissjoni
Ewropea taghmel mall-imsiehba socjali – l-European Economic & Social
Committee (EESC). Ms Sylvia Sciberras, Assistant Secretary General tal-GRTU, hi
wahda miz-zewg rapprezentanti tal-Employers Maltin fl-EESC. Ms Sylvia Sciberras
hi wkoll membru tal-Kumitat importanti tal-EESC li jiddeliberaw kwistjonijiet
dwar it-thaddim tal-Internal Market Ewropew u fl-iehor li jittratta dwar
kwistjonijiet socjali.

Id-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU Vincent Farrugia hu
membru ta’ istituzzjoni ohra importanti tal-Unjoni Ewropea, l-European Social
Funds Committee (ESF), Vince Farrugia ukoll jaghmel parti mill-process
konsultattiv u ta’ djalogu mall-imsiehba socjali fuq livell ewropew fl-oqsma li
jolqtu s-Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), fl-oqsma tal-intraprizi
tal-artigjanat (crafts) u ghas-settur tal-kummerc (retailing, trading and
wholesaling u international trade) u wkoll ghat-thaddim tal-enlarged internal
market.

Il-GRTU permezz tas-shubija taghha fil-EuroCommerce
(il-federazzjoni tal-ghaqdiet nazzjonali ewropew tas-sidien tan-negozji
fis-settur tal-kummerc) u fil-UEAPME (l-organizazzjoni ewropea li tirraprezenta
lil intraprizi tal-artigjanat u l-SME’s) u fil-CONFIAD Pan European Network
(l-organizazzjoni li tirraprezenta lil Customs Agents u Cargo Hauliers), hi llum
attiva fl-oqsma l-aktar importanti li jolqtu lil intraprizi z-zghar Maltin fuq
livell ewropew. Hu ghalhekk importanti li r-rapprezenza diretta tas-sidien
tan-negozji permezz tal-GRTU issa tkompli tissahhah b’raprezentanza eletta
fil-parlament Ewropew ta’ nies kapaci, kwolifikati u mpenjati favur t-tishih
tal-intraprizi z-zghar. M’ghadux aktar z-zmien li s-sidien tan-negozji z-zghar
jivvutaw bl-ghama u bil-passjoni. Il-vot irid jintuza bil-ghaqal favur min lest
li jizgura li dak li qed jitwieghed favur in-negozji z-zghar jitwettaq. L-appell
tal-GRTU ghalhekk hu biex is-sidien tan-negozji jivvutaw u jhaddmu rashom biex
jghazlu sewwa.

ï‚· Accetta li jippostponi
l-implimentazzjoni tar-regolamenti hekk kif jaffetwaw lil bars, restoranti u
postijiet tad-divertiment
ï‚· Accetta li lin-negozji z-zghar mifruxa ma’ Malta
u Ghawdex kollu jhallihom bi kwiethom basta dawn jghamlu apparat li jnaddaf
l-arja.
ï‚· Accetta li l-apparat li jnaddaf l-arja ma ghandux ikun wiehed li
jsallab lis-sisien tan-negozji u li ghalhekk jkun aktar jaqblilhom li jghamlu
l-post kollu non smoking.
ï‚· Accetta wkoll li hwienet ta’ anqas minn 60 metru
kwadru (u dan il-kejl jghodd ghall-public area u ma jinkludiex it-toilets, store
rooms, kuriduri, btiehi, kcina u postijiet mhux bar jew restorant areas) ma
jkunux obligati jghamlu xi divizorju fisiku u jistghu jzommu l-post kollu
smoking.
ï‚· Accetta li postijiet ikbar ikollhom jghamlu smoking u non smoking
area basta ma jkunx hemm htiega ta’ separazzjoni fizika u basta li jkun hemm
apparat li jizgura li d-duhhan mill-ismoking area ma jasalx u ma jniggisx z-zona
li tkun dikjarata non smoking.

Il-GRTU, bi dritt taht il-ligi tal-Malta
Standards Authority fejn il-GRTU ghandha rapprezentanza skond l-istess ligi u
bla htiega ta’ pjacir ta l-ebda Ministru, giet msejjha biex tiehu sehem
f’Kumitat Tekniku imqabbad mill-MSA. Il-GRTU skond id-dritt taghha taht il-ligi
tal-MSA talbet formalment lil MSA twaqqaf Standards Committee biex tistabilixxi
“internal air quality standards”. Minflok waqqfet Standards Committee, skond
il-Ligi u kif talbet l-GRTU fis-27 ta’ Frar 2004, l-MSA hadet ordni minghand
il-Ministru tas-Sahha biex twaqqaf Kumitat Tekniku skond kif iddetta l-istess
Ministeru. Il-GRTU ghamlitha cara li kenet qed tattendi dan il-Kumitat bi
protesta ghax ma qisithux bhala dak rikjest.

F’laqgha mac-Chairman u
c-Chief Officers tal-MSA (7ta’ Mejju 2004), u b’kitba u laqgha mall-Prim
Ministru l-Onorevoli Dr Lawrence Gonzi, il-GRTU pprotestat li l-Kumitat tal-MSA
ma kienx ghajr skuza biex f’Malta tiddahhal “total smoking ban”.

Kemm
il-Prim Ministru kif ukoll il-Ministru Louis Deguara cahhdu ripetutament u
pubblikament li ma jridux idahhlu “total smoking ban”. Il-manuvri li saru
fil-Kumitat Tekniku 1200 minn rapprezentanti tal-Ministru tas-Sahha u
bil-kollaborazzjoni shiha u ingusta tal-Ing. Michael Cassar kienu carament
intenzjonati li jghamluha impossibli li xi bars, restoranti,
canteens,kaffetteriji jew postijiet tad-divertiment, zghar kemm huma zghar,
jkunu jistghu jzommu zona ghat-tipjip.

Illum jidher car li wara l-halfa
tal-Gvern li mhux ser jaghmel total smoking ban u li mihiex l-intenzjoni
tal-Gvern li jghabbi lin-negozji z-zghar b’pizijiet li ma jifilhux ghalihom,
issa l-Ministru tas-Sahha qed idawwar dan kollu u ser jghabbi lill-industrija
tad-divertiment b’regolamenti impossibbli biex hadd ma jkun jista’ jhalli
smoking area. Hu ghalhekk li l-GRTU illum qed titkellem bl-aktar mod car. Dan
ghaliex dak li kien miftiehem issa qed ikun injorat u dak li kien imwieghed,
anke pubblikament, issa qed ikun innegat. Ghall- GRTU dan it-tidwir mhux
accetabbli.

Il-GRTU tqis dan bhala ngann; tidwir bla sens ta’ min
il-bierah idawwar l’hawn u illum idawwar bil-kontra. Il-GRTU qed tappella lil
Kabinett tal-Ministri biex jiehu pozizzjoni serja favur in-negozji z-zghar ta’
pajjizna.

Jekk bis-serjeta’ il-Kabinett hu favur in-negozji z-zghar, kif
ghadha temmen il-GRTU, allura l-istess Kabinett tal-Ministri ghandu jara li
l-ebda Ministru ma jdawwar u jerga’ jdawwar decizjonijiet miftehma. Din hi
kwistjoni li kienet solvuta u illum qed terga’ tinfetah bla bzonn.

Is-sidien tan-negozji z-zghar ta’ pajjizna mhux ser joqghod ghal dan
iz-zufjett.

Waqt
l-prezentazzjoni tal-pubblikazzjoni tieghu lis-Sur Joe Tabone, Senior Vice-
President tal-GRTU, Dr Ian Spiteri Bailey, qal li huwa bhala MEP irid jassigura
lil GRTU, bhala r-rapprezentant u l-vuci nazzjonali ewlenija ghan-negozji
z-zghar ta’ pajjizna li huwa jikkommetti ruhu li:

ï‚· Jzomm kuntatt
kontinwu ma’ kull min hu interessat u koncernat fuq l-intraprizi zghar u medji
f’pajjizna
ï‚· Li jara li impatt negattiv possibli fuq l-SMEs Maltin ikun ta
l-anqas dannu possibbli
ï‚· Li jizgura li jkunu avvanzati l-dejat illi jaghtu
ghajnuna lis-settur ta’ l-SME’s anke f’pajjizna
ï‚· Li jirsisti biex tidhol
kultura ta’ impact assessment fuq l-imprizi zghar u medji qabel ma jittiehdu u
jigu mplementati certu decizjonijiet f’pajjizna u fuq livell Ewropew
Dr Ian
Spiteri Bailey spjega wkoll x’kienet il-politika tal-Partit Popolari Ewropew
lejn l-intraprizi zghar u medji b’mod partikulari l-impenn tal-PPE li tinholoq
l-infrastruttura kollha necessarja sabiex l-intraprizi zghar u medji ma jibqghux
jhallsu prezz gholi minhabba burokrazija zejda.

Wiegeb ghall-GRTU, Vince
Farrugia, Direttur Generali. Vince Farrugia qal li l-GRTU sodisfatta li
ghall-Elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew resqu Kandidati li fosthom hemm min
jista’ verament jaghmel differenza fejn jidhlu l-interessi tal-intraprizi
z-zghar. “Il-GRTU hi deciza li tara li l-politici Maltin li qed jikkommettu
ruhhom favur in-negozji z-zghar, jwettqu bis-serjeta’ dak li jweghdu”. Illum
il-GRTU ghandha numru ta’ kwistjonijiet li jekk mhux ser ikunu risolti ser ikunu
l-kawza ta’ konflitti u nkwiet. Il-kwistjonijiet pendenti huma
dawn:

ï‚· Data Protection: Il-ligi tghid car u tond li min jigbor
informazzjoni ta’ impjegati jew klijenti ghax obligat mill-ligi dan huwa
ezentat. Ghalhekk il-GRTU issostni li n-negozji z-zghar kollha m’ghandhomx
ghalfejn jkunu obligati jirregistraw u jhallsu licenzja. Mhux kwistjoni ta’ Lm10
jew lm20 fis-sena. Din burokrazija zejda u tirraprezenta ipokrezija fi zmien li
kulhadd jghid kontra l-burokrazija zejda.

ï‚· Smoking Ban: Il-gvern
intrabat mall-GRTU li l-bars u postijiet ohra zghar mifruxa ma Malta kollha li
jkunu ezentati basta jkollhom extractors adekwati. Issa il-Ministru tas-Sahha
qed jerga jdawwar kollox. Din l-GRTU mhux ser toqghod ghaliha. Illum ghandna
sitwazzjoni fejn bil-kliem jinghad mod u bil-fatti nsibu mod iehor. Il-GRTU mhux
ser toqghod ghal dan u l-pulitici Maltin, fil-gvern, fl-oposizzjoni u
fil-Parlament Ewropej jridu jiehdu dan l-messagg bl-akbar serjeta’”

ï‚·
Ezenzjoni mill-Audit ghan-Negozzji Zghar: Il-Gvern wieghed li jezenta n-negozji
z-zghar mill-ispejjes zejda li jqabblu awdituri kull sena biex jarawlha l-kotba.
B’direttiva tal-Unjoni Ewropea n-negozji zghar illum jistghu jghamlu
dikjarazzjoni semplici skond il-ligi. Il-gvern din l-weghda baqa’ ma
implimentahiex.

ï‚· Assistenza lin-negozji zghar: “X’hin tghasar issib ftit
li xejn. “Il-GRTU qed taghmilha cara: min iwieghed irid iwettaq”. I-GRTU mhux
ser toqghod ghat-tidwir u l-kutrumbajsi” enfasizza Vince
Farrugia.

“Urejna din l-gimgha fil-Freeport li mhux ser noqghodu aktar
ghall-weghdi biss”. Vince Farrugia qal li l-GRTU qed tistenna li meta s-sidien
tan-negozji Maltin jinghataw direttivi biex jiddefendu l-interessi taghhom dan
jghamluh minghajr ma jkunu egoistici. Is-sidien tal-intraprizi Maltin jridu
jkunu lesti li jwiegbu biex jiddefendu dak li hu taghhom bi dritt”.

a) li jkun hemm zewg kategoriji ta’ postijiet licenzjati, dawk
li huma izghar minn 60metru kwadru u l-ohra li huma minn 60metru kwadru,
l-fuq
b) li f’dawk ta’ qies zghir (60 metru kwadru u anqas) ma jkunx hemm
htiega ta’ separazzjoni f’zona “smoking” u ohra “non-smoking” u li jkun
bizzejjed li f’dawn il-postijiet jkun assigurat li jkun hemm air extractors biex
l-arja tkun skond parametri stabbiliti.
c) Li fil-postijiet l-ohra jkun
possibbli li jkun hemm zoni “non smoking” u ohrajn “smoking” sakemm fiz-zoni ta’
tipjip jkun hemm kwalita’ ta’ arja skond l-istess parametri.
Il-GRTU
fil-protest gudizjarju taghha qed issostni li fir-regolamenti kif mibdula
mill-Ministru ma giex onorat dak li kien miftiehem rigward it-tipjip f’postijiet
tad-divertiment. Il-GRTU ghaldaqstant qed izzomm lill-Ministru reponsabbli
ghall-hsara li dan in-nuqqas tieghu li jimxi ma dak li kien miftiehem qed
jikkawza u qed tappella lil l-istess Ministru biex jonora dak li ftiehem dwaru
mall-GRTU f’isem il-postijiet tad-divertiment ta’ Malta u
Ghawdex.

Il-protest gudizjarju kien pprezentat mill-Avukat Dr Andrew Borg
Cardona. Kopja tal-Protest qeghda wkoll
tintbghat:

Fil-Qorti Civili Prim’Awla

GRTU
– Association of General Retailers & Traders
Vs
Ministru ghas-Sahha,
l-Anzjani u l-Kura fil-Kommunita’

Protest tal-GRTU – Association of
General Retailers & Traders
Jesponu umilment

Illi waqt laqghat
mall-Protestat u ufficjali tal-Ministeru tieghu rigward vertenza li nqalghet
dwar regolamenti promulgati dwar it-tipjip f’postijiet pubblici, l-istess
Protestat kien qabel u obbliga ruhhu li tali regolamenti jigu modifikati

Illi l-modifikci kellhom ikunu fis-sens illi postijiet ta’ divertiment
jkunu maqsuma f’dawk akbar minn sittin metru kwadru u dawk izghar, biex b’hekk
it-tipjip f’dawn il-postijiet jigi regolat b’mod ukoll miftiehem bejn
il-partijiet.

Illi l-mod ta’ regolamentazzjoni maqbul kien, fis-succint,
illi postijiet izghar minn sittin metru kwadru ma kienx ser ikollhom bzonn ta’
zoni separati fejn jista’ jsir tipjip jew le, basta jkun hemm kwalita’ ta’ arja
skond parametri li kellhom jigu stabbiliti, filwaqt illi postijiet akbar kellhom
ikollhom zoni separati u fiz-zona ta’ tipjip kellu jkun hemm kwalita’ ta’ arja
skond l-istess parametri.

Illi b’hekk postijiet ta’ divertiment setghu
jigu operati b’mod illi l-ghanijiet ta’ kull parti kienu jigu
milhuqa.

Illi r-regolamenti kienu gew promulgati permezz ta’ l-AL 145 ta’
l-2004.

Illi r-regolamenti kif promulgati ma jirriflettu bl-ebda mod dak
li gie miftiehem bejn il-partijiet rigwardanti tipjip f’postijiet ta’
divertiment.

Ghaldaqstant filwaqt li jpoggu lill-Protestat in dolo, mora
u culpa ghall-finijiet u effetti kollha tal-ligi, jinterpellawh biex minnufieh
jaghmel dak kollu necessarju biex jottempora ruhhu mal-ftehim li sar.

Il-ftehim hu taht forma ta’ Service Agreement li bih l-Freeport
Terminal jizgura li jhaddmu ghoxrin container fis-siegha u l-ftehim jiddentifika
l-kundizzjonijiet li tahtu jridu jwettqu x-xoghol taghhom il-burdnara biex ikun
assigurat li jintlahaq il-livell ta’ effizjenza miftehma.

Il-ftehim
intlahaq wara tlett ijiem ta’ negozzjati bejn il-GRTU, mmexxija mid-Direttur
Generali Vincent Farrugia u l-Malta Freeport immexxija mic-Chairman Mark
Portelli. Matul dawn it-tlett ijiem il-burdnara ma kienux qed jaghtu s-servizz
taghhom ta’ garr ta’ containers mill-Freeport ghax hassew li ma setghux jahdmu
akatr minghajr ftehim li kien jorbot liz-zewg nahat fuq numru ta’ containers li
l-Freeport Terminal ikun lest li jirrilaxxa kull siegha. B’dan il-ftehim dan
il-ghan intlahaq u qed jigi ukoll assigurat li d-dhul u l-hrug ta’ containers
jibda mis-7.30 ta’ filghodu ghal dak li hu xoghol normali, u mis-6.00 ta’
filghodu ghall-hrug ta’ containers li jkunu gew irregistrati mill-gurnata ta’
qabel.

Il-GRTU tqies dan il-ftehim bhala pass storiku u mportanti ghax
din hija l-ewwel darba li qed isir Service Agreement bhal dan bejn l-Freeport u
l-akbar group ta’ users tal-Malta Freeport mis-suq
lokali.

As the protest was
in progress, Vince Farrugia, director general of the Malta Chamber of Small and
Medium Enterprises – GRTU, was holding talks with the Freeport's management over
the issue.

He said after the meeting that the GRTU was now waiting for a
reply from the Freeport over how the company intended to improve the situation.
Meanwhile, the protest would go on.

Mr Farrugia said cargo haulers
experienced an average of between four to five hours of delay every
day.

He said that some time ago, an agreement had been reached with the
authorities on the purchase or hire of new equipment to facilitate the work. But
nothing had been done to improve the situation.

Cargo haulers, he said,
carried cargo to and from the ports for exporters and importers, and as such
they were clients of the Freeport.

He accused the management of failing
in its promise to invest in equipment to ensure the efficient transfer of the
ever-increasing volume of containers. The delays were causing the haulers to
lose money, he claimed.

"Container handling is a competitive business
and, therefore, the haulers cannot pass on the burden to importers and
exporters."

He recalled that the GRTU had warned the IT and Government
Investments Ministry about the protest on April 15 and a reminder was sent two
days ago but the situation remained unchanged.

Cargo haulers yesterday
parked their trailers in a long row outside the Freeport gate, at the side of
the road leading to Ghar Hasan.

They complained about sometimes being at
the Freeport very early in the morning only to have to wait until 3 p.m. or
later. Lifters, they said, were either out of order or else taken up by other
operations at the Freeport.

The necessary equipment would ensure that
their operations were carried out efficiently and without delay.

They
also lamented the lack of sanitary facilities or somewhere where they could have
a drink or a snack while they waited.

The Freeport last night blamed the
haulers, the abnormally large volume of work and the weather for the
delays.

In a statement, it said it had suggested an appointment system,
as is utilised in other ports, to distribute work throughout the day. However,
the haulers had rejected it, congregating at the Freeport between 7 a.m. and 8
a.m. and causing congestion, queues and the consequent delays.

The
Freeport also said the volume of cargo destined for the local market had been
very high over the past week, with 1,500 containers passing through.

High
winds on Tuesday had also meant stopping the operation of cranes for safety
reasons, and in order to make up for it, Freeport workers had done 14 hours'
overtime.

The GRTU were also accused of not replying to a list of
proposals sent by the Freeport on April 19. Among the proposals were earlier
opening times and opening on Saturday mornings.

The Freeport appealed for
GRTU cooperation in finding efficient solutions to the problems, citing its
important role to local industry in offering links with more than 105 ports
around the world. The large ships would not come for such a small market as
Malta's were it not for the transshipment service that it
operated.