Category: Archive – 2012

The European Agency for Safety and
Health at Work, EU-OSHA (http://osha.europa.eu) aims to raise awareness of the
importance of occupational safety and health (OSH) in SMEs in the EU.

To this effect it kindly asks if you
could dedicate a few minutes of your time to complete an online survey that
will help gauge your access to OSH information. Through the survey you will
also have the opportunity to tell them how you would best like to receive
information on OSH activities.

The survey is available on
https://surveys.employmentresearch.co.uk/surveylogin.asp?k=135306387813

The Review of Directive 2006/114/EC concerning misleading and
comparative advertising (MCAD), which has been published last Tuesday. The Communication provides an overview of how the MCAD is
currently implemented in the Member States, identifies problems in how it is
applied and outlines plans to revise it in the future.

In October 2011 the Commission launched a consultation. In
general, stakeholders supported legislative action.

There was a strong call by other stakeholders for increased
protection for small companies and independent professionals against misleading
marketing practices. According to the Commission, there is a virtual consensus
that a cooperation procedure needs to be developed for cross-border cases of
misleading advertising, as the majority stated that existing enforcement
procedures are not effective.

Moreover, there was similarly strong support for an EU-wide
instrument to protect businesses against the most harmful misleading marketing
practices.  The consultation results show
that almost no Member States have so far taken cross-border action regarding
misleading advertising. Several Member States consider that this is the result
of a lack of a structured cooperation system and the weakness of the MCAD,
which contains only general clauses for assessing whether a commercial
communication is misleading.

Next steps European Commission

Non-legislative action:

Set up, as from now,
an ad hoc network of authorities to step up enforcement of the MCAD and share
information.

 

 

Legislative action: revision of the Directive in order to:

Clarify its scope by
introducing a clearer definition of misleading marketing practices;

Introduce a
black-list of the most harmful misleading marketing practices;

Introduce effective,
proportionate and dissuasive penalties for infringements of the national
provisions adopted in application of the Directive;

Clarify certain
aspects of comparative advertising based on the jurisprudence of the Court of
Justice.

 

 

In the context of the legislative revision, the European
Commission intends to:

Create an enforcement
cooperation procedure (enforcement network) grouping national enforcement
authorities in charge of the legislation protecting businesses to cooperate in
cases of cross-border misleading marketing practices;

Introduce mutual
assistance obligations for the Member States entailing the explicit possibility
of requesting enforcement measures in cross-border situations;

Introduce provisions
that will require Member States to designate an enforcement authority in the
area of business-to-business marketing.

Companies can protect their
competitiveness through a range of means, including in particular trademarks,
designs and patents. However, there is a substantial volume of information,
know-how and innovation steps that are not protectable through intellectual
property rights.

Business information, such as a list of
customers, lists of providers, the price to be offered in a negotiation or bid;
the results of certain market studies; the particulars of a new product to be
launched, is usually treated as confidential.

Following a call for tenders, the
European Commission contracted Baker & McKenzie to carry out a study on the
economic and legal aspects linked with the use, misappropriation and litigation
on confidential business information and trade secrets. 

In this context Baker & McKenzie is
launching a survey aimed at collecting information on how companies manage
their know-how and other information of strategic value for their
competitiveness. The data to be collected from companies from all sizes and
locations within the European Union will help the European Commission to better
evaluate whether there is a need to provide companies, and in particular SMEs,
with better means of reaction against dishonest practices of information
stealing or trade secret theft.

The European Commission encourages any
company to participate in the survey. In order to do so simply send a message
to expressing
your willingness to participate. You will then receive an e-mail providing a
user ID, a password and a link to the webpage of the survey. You will be able
to choose between a number of languages in which to complete the survey.

 

More information is provided in the
following website of the European Commission : http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/iprenforcement/conferences/index_en.htm

Below is a summary of the Budget
Measures deemed to be most important to business. Please feel free to contact
GRTU to have further information on any of them.

 

Cost of Living Adjustment of €4.08

More incentives towards enterprise

Extension
of High Energy Users Scheme to Gozitan industry.

Revision
of incubation services to start-ups in Kordin. Development of plug in/plug out
facility for ICT and Digital Content Businesses.

SMEs

MicroInvest
is extended for a further two years and businesses employing to 30 people are
now eligible.

Continuation
of MicroCredit and MicroGuarantee.

Scheme
towards the promotion of clusters and networks and to support small local
businesses benefit from the Single Market opportunities

BSTART:
a tax deduction scheme of up to €30,000 for seed capital investment

Entrepreneurship
action plan ranging from Primary Schools to tertiary education

Support
to young people willing to explore business opportunities through a Youth
Entrepreneurship Act.

University
will establish an Observatory to strengthen research on business and the
self-employed

Launch
of short and intensive weekend courses for those interested in starting up
their own business

ERDF
Scheme for Gozitan businesses

Strengthening
of the financial services sector through the establishment of an international
market for pensions and retirement schemes

 

Tourism

Licenced
hotels will benefit from Investment Aid on 15% of capital expenditure (in form
of tax credits)

Incentive
schemes to increaseboutique hotels in Valletta, Imdina and the 3 cities (tax
deductions on investments related to
purchase and development of these sites and MEPA/MTA fees)

Winter
incentive for visiting Gozo

 

Property

The
present choice on paying capital gains tax or 12% final witholding tax is
extended from 7 to 12 years as from 2013

Administrative
reform related to property valuation:

Couples
or persons purchasing the first residential home taking out bank loans will be
able to provide the bank architect property valuation

In
case of properties whose value exceeds €250,000, before signing of contracts
the seller and buyer may request the department to send its architect to issue
price valuation on which stamp duty is paid. This valuation remains valid for 6
months from date of issue.

As from 01/01/2013 removal of stamp duty on
will transfer of property from parents to children.

3.5% stamp duty ceiling for first time buyers
is increased from €116,468.67 to €150,000

First three hundred applicants
will qualify for subsidised 2.5% interest rate on bank loan for First 8 years.
These will receive up to €14,000 in subsidy.

 

Training

Active scheme will focus on those young people
who are on the unemployment register. Following provision of necessary
training, these young people will be offered a work experience of 20 hours in a
sector which best relates to their profile. A pro-rata benefit will apply.

Another scheme will target unemployed young
persons to explore entrepreneurship opportunities. The applicant will be able
to choose selfemployment or membership in a cooperative. Training and mentoring
will be provided, while employers employing up to persons will benefit from a deduction in
social contributions.

An innovative apprenticeship programme which
provides financial incentives to employers and students. Government will pay
SSC on the employer's behalf. Apprentice
stipend will increase from €86 to €95.

Extension of minimum wage scheme, with an
investment of €300,000 in favour of those earning up to 300 euro a week. These
will receive 25 euro a week.

Youth.Inc, target towards young people aged
16-21 is extended to those aged up to 24

Strengthening of professional team behind
Youth.Inc

Job Bridge programme will
provide specialised training to persons with a disability to strengthen their
skill set to adapt to the job market

 

Women and the
job market

Continuation of construction of 4 child care
centres (Naxxar, San Gwann, Gżira and Żurrieq).

Continuation of up to €1,300 tax deduction for
parents sending their children to child care centres

Women returning to work after 5 years or after
having children will maintain one year tax free status

Maternity Leave up to increases 18 weeks

Children's allowance increases
from €350 to €450, and to€527 for families dependent on a minimum wage

 

Income tax

Over
3 years income tax for those currently paying 35% income tax will be reduced as
follows:

32%
(2013)

29%
(2014)

25%
(2015)

 

Energy and
environment

Introduction
of feed-in tariffs for PV panels not supported through other funding:

Installations
of less than 1MW on rooftops: 18c/kWh for 20 years;

Installations
of less on the ground: 17c/kWh for 20
years;

Installations
of less than 1MW on rooftops: 17c/kWh for 20 years; and

Installations
of less than 1MW on the ground: 16ckWh for 20 years.

Plans
for a new PV panel scheme for households

Finalisation
of scheme in favour of families not able to invest in PV panels on their
rooftops

Extension
of Solar Water Heater rebate (40% up to max. €400)

15.25%
rebate up to €1,000 on double glazing and roof insulation.

Increase
in excise duty on fuel consumption of 2c per litre on petrol and diesel and 5
euro per tonne on cement.

 

Capital
Projects

Commencement
of underground carpark and public garden on Sliema Front and works on Paola
square

Restoration
opportunities

Scheme
for the restoration of residential properties which are classified as Grade 1
and 2 in UCAs. This will include provision of 25% on expenditure on such works
up to a max. of €5,000. Properties in Valletta benefit up to 30%.

NGOs
will also benefit from a similar scheme on buildings transferred to them from
Government. Buildings classified Grade 1 and 2 in UCAs are eligible. 25%
rebates up to €2,500.

Individuals
and companies that purchase properties outside UCAs for restoration purposes
will benefit from a 2% deduction in stamp duty. A 20% tax credit of up
to€200,000 related to restoration and development is also applicable

Transport

Euro
5 car registration tax is reduced by a maximum of 30%.

Euro
4 car registration tax is increased by an average of 10%

Tax
rate on N1 commercial vehicles is reduced by 12.5% to incentive purchase of new
cars

500
euro scrappage scheme for new private or commercial (N1) cars on scrappage of
older vehicle

Removal
of registration tax on motorcycles with 250cc engine and 25% reduction on other
engine capacities

Removal
of registration tax on classic cars aged 50 years and over

Classic
care definition is lowered from 35 to 30 years.

Removal
of annual circulation licence for classic cars. Replaced by administrative fee
of €8.

Rebate
scheme of €200 for conversion of cars to autogas.

Reduction
of annual circulation licence for autogas powered cars registered after 2009

Extension
of TM licence regularisation scheme

The
social sector

Energy
benefit: Gas price allowance to increase from €30 to €40.

 Elderly

€300
allowance announced last year for persons aged 80+ is extended to those aged
78+ and eventually to those aged 75+. 1.5 million euro vote per year.

Full
COLA increase to the elderly

Revision
of Supplementary Assistance for those aged 65+ in cases where household income
is below the risk-of-poverty threshold, to ensure that this category is covered
by a higher Supplementary Allowance

The Plenary of the European Parliament has adopted the Terho report on
the green paper ‘Towards an integrated European market for card, internet and
mobile payments'. The report gives a number of recommendations which are very
supportive of our views related to a fair and transparent payment system.

On interchange fees:

"MIFs should be regulated at the European level, with the aim of ensuring
easier access for new market players to cross-border acquiring"

–
Regulation "should not result in an increase of MIFs in any Member State but
rather to a decrease and, perhaps, a reduction towards zero at some later
stage."

–
The European Parliament "calls on the Commission to ensure by regulation that
MIFs no longer distort competition by creating barriers to new market entrants
and innovation"

On cross-border acquiring: Any technical
or legal obstacles to cross-border or central acquiring should be removed.

On surcharging: The report states
that surcharging can be harmful to end-users and that therefore, there should
be one commonly used payment instrument available without surcharge and that
any surcharges used should not exceed the additional direct costs.

The Terho report is what is referred to an own-initiative report, not a
report drafted in reaction to a European Commission Communication, and there
will be a further report on the Commission proposals when they are issued next
year. It is however a very positive sign that the Parliament would support
regulation which takes a strong stance on interchange fees.

Why is MIF such an important issue?

The payments market is on the verge of significant change. New
technologies canoffer low-cost electronic alternatives to cash. The MIF however
presents insurmountable obstacle to realising these potential efficiencies. It
is not so much the differences in fee levels between countries that is
problematic, but rather that the very existence of the MIF prevents market
entry and innovation. It also distorts competition between banks, schemes and
payment means.

The two major card schemes compete with each other by offering the
issuing banks higher MIFs: this simply inflates prices and distorts
competition. The MIF creates unnecessary costs by providing 'free' promotional
services, which consumers often do not want or use. These costs are
nevertheless imposed on merchants, who initially try to absorb them but are
(ultimately) forced to pass them on in all retail prices, which means that even
those paying in cash end up paying for the MIF!

The MIF is not integral to the operation of the payments card system.
This is evidenced by significant differences in MIF levels among European
countries and was found to be the case by the European Court in the MasterCard
appeal decision. The Court also found that the MIF exploits the maximum
willingness of merchants to pay. Banks and schemes have never provided
satisfactory or sufficient justification for the existence of the MIF, or for
its cost level.

Further info:

Full text: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2012-0304+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN

See
also European Parliament News http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20121116IPR55705/html/Towards-common-fees-for-card-payments

The WEEE Directive will remain in the
doldrums. It will not be implemented. Government does not care.  The business community led by GRTU has lost
hope. We have moaned complained groaned written discussed shouted, but to no
avail Government stands tall.

GRTU provides one solace. If Government
or MEPA ever think that on receipt of an infringement notice and subsequent
penalties it will pass these to producers, then it is best known from now! No
producer will pay any fees or penalties if he was paying Eco Contribution. There
is only one way out for Government. Stop tacking eco contribution and the
business community will shoulder it.

Otherwise this is history. Pity that DG
Environment has no clue of the situation in Malta.

Why is government procrastinating? Is
there any valid reason?  Or is it just
money?  The budget this time around shows
a decrease of two and a half million from Eco Contribution. So is there
anything in the pipeline or just continued evasion?

Early this week MEUSAC set up a meeting
regarding the transposition of the revised WEEE Directive. I for one would not
have wanted to be the MEPA representative at that meeting. MEUSAC should have
known better. They should have invited the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry
for Finance to be present. Maybe then he could have given the producers present
some answers.

The revised Directive is much more
demanding and communities are faced with this problem too. A problem endorsed
by a Government that has shied away from its obligations just because someday
he thinks he will make the producer pay twice. Keep on dreaming!

Il-Budget 2013 jolqot hafna
mill-perspettivi li l-GRTU iddiskutiet mal-Gvern sa minn Gunju 2012. L-Aktar
punt li shaqna fuqu hu li fi klima Ewropeja li ghadha difficli, l-Gvern ma
jipperikolax dak li gie akkwistat b'tant sagrificcji fl-ahhar snin billi
f'daqqa wahda jiftah idu izzejjed. Il-Bazi tal-proposti tal-GRTU infatti kienu
immirati biex jissahhah is-settur produttiv fil-waqt li jkun mghejjun min hu
batut, izda mhux li jkun hemm tberbieq ta` finanzi bla bzonn. Il-GRTU issostni
li l-istabbilita' ekonomika u l-kredibbilta' li Malta tgawdi fis-swieq
finanzjarji, u fiz-zona Ewro b'mod partikolari, m'ghandux ikun ippregudikat.

Il-GRTU ghalhekk hi sodisfatta li
l-istrategija generali tal-Budget 2013 hi wahda ta' stabbilita' u ta' aktar
inkoraggiment lill-produzzjoni u skemi ta` tishih fl-investiment pubbliku u
privat, fl-infrastruttura, fl-edukazzjoni, fis-sahha, fit-tahrig, fis-support u
assistenza lill-intrapriza u t-tishieh tad-dhul, u ghalhekk l-infieq tal-familji
Maltin. Fuq kollox il-GRTU hi sodisfatta li Budget 2013 qed ikattar b'infieq
meqjus biex tkompli tittaffa l-problema ta` nfieq ta' familji bi qliegh baxx,
pensjonanti u ta` nies li minhabba f'dizabilita', mard jew cirkostanzi socjali
mhux normali jbatu jekk ma jkunux mejghuna b'mod dirett u adekwat. Il-GRTU
tifrah b'mod partikolari li l-Gvern accetta numru konsiderevoli ta' proposti li
ressqet l-GRTU biex is-sidien tan-negozji micro, zghar u self-employed jkunu
inkoraggati jahdmu u jkabbru. Fuq kollox, is-self-employed u s-sidien
tan-negozji mhux biss huma nies importanti fis-settur prodduttiv imma
jirraprezentaw sezzjoni qawwija tal-popolazzjoni Maltija li ghalihom il-Budget
hu importanti wkoll minn aspett socjali u fiskali.

Il-Bicca l-kbira tal-iskemi li
l-Gvern qed jestendi u jkattar favur in-negozji z-zghar u l-familji huma skemi
li l-GRTU ilha tinsisti fuqhom is-snin.

Il-GRTU tifrah li l-Gvern fl-ahhar
qed jibda jimplimenta l-iskema li ilha tipproponi l-GRTU sa mill-2005, dik li
l-Gvern fuq mhedda ta' snin jibda jbaxxi l-ghola rata ta' income tax minn 35%
ghall-25%. It-taxxa ta` 35% fuq id-dhul ta` hafna familji bi-dhul medju u b'mod
partikolari l-bicca l-kbira tas-self-employed hi qawwija hafna u tiskoraggixxi
x-xoghol u l-produzzjoni. Il-Gvern qabel ma faqqet ir-ricessjoni ekonomika li
f'Malta nhasset l-aktar fl-2009, fl-2010, fl-2011 u fl-2012, kien wieghed
lill-GRTU li jibda jatwgha it-tnaqqis sa mill-2009. Issa li l-ghawg, tajjeb jew
hazin qed jitrazzan, hu xieraq li l-Gvern se jibda jwettaq dan it-tnaqqis.

L-Iskemi kollha li l-Gvern qed
jipproponi f'dan il-Budget jolqtu lil eluf ta' self-employed u sidien ta'
negozji zghar, lil eluf kbar ta' haddiema u b'mod partikolari liz-zghazagh u
lil familji fil-bzonn. Il-proposti tal-GRTU ghal Budget 2013 kienu estensivi u
l-Gvern kien jaghmel tajjeb kieku nkorpora hafna aktar min dak li proponiet
il-GRTU. Dan ghaliex dak kollu li ipproponiet il-GRTU kellu l-ghan ahhari li
jkattar il-gid nazzjonali billi jirdoppja r-rata ta` tkattir tal-GDP li skond l-aggar
estimi huma 1.6 fl-2013 u 2.1 fl-2014. Il-GRTU issostni li dawn huma rati baxxi
wisq anke fic-cirkostanzi tal-lum ghal ekonomija miftuha bhal Malta.

Fit-totalita' tieghu il-Budget izda,
bla ma naqqas xejn mir-rittmu ta' tkabbir u stabilita' li Malta akwistat f'dawn
is-snin difficli, qed jipproponi li jwettaq bizzejjed biex igieghel lil GRTU
tappella lill-Membri Parlamentari biex japprovaw dan il-Budget. Budget mhux
approvat ikun ifisser li l-Gvern ma jista' jwettaq xejn mill-proposti kollha
ta' fejda u ta' estenzjonijiet ta' skemi li qed ikunu proposti f'dan il-Budget.
Ikun ifisser li ahna kollha fis-settur privat li hdimna mal-Gvern u s-settur
pubbliku biex il-Gvern ikun f'pozizzjoni li jressaq Budget ghaqli, inkunu
inghatajna il-genb. Ikun ifisser li haddiema tal-privat u tal-Gvern, sidien ta'
negozji, pensjonanti u tant setturi fil-bzonn fis-socjeta' ma jkunux jistghu
jgawdu dak li qed jigi propost ghalihom f'Budget 2013. Ikun ifisser li
ghall-ewwel tlett xhur tas-sena, ta` l-anqas, xejn gdid ma jkun jista jigi
finanzjat u l-ebda skema li skadiet fl-2012 ma tkun tista' tiggedded. Malta
jkollha taqa` ghall-finanzjament li kellha fil-Budget 2012, bin-nuqqas izda ta`
l-iskemi li skadew u bl-ebda zidiet lill-haddiema u setturi ohra li skont
Budget 2013 ikunu effettivi b'effett immedjat.

F'Dan il-kuntest il-GRTU qeda
tappella li l-programm estensiv li proponiet il-GRTU ghandu issa jaghmel parti
mid-diskussjoni aktar wiesa li ghandha issir fix-xhur li gejjin fit-tfassil
tal-programmi elettorali tal-partiti politici. Budget 2013 jaghmel sens ghaliex
jinkoragixxi t-tkattir ekonomiku u t-tishih tal-koezjoni socjali u huwa pass
iehor il-quddiem biex Malta takkwista aktar kredibilita' bhala membru shih ta`
l-Unjoni Ewropeja u l-Unjoni Monetarja, kif ukoll biex tibqa` kompettitiva'
fl-2013 u s-snin ta` wara. Budget 2013 ghandu jkun approvat halli pajjizna
jkompli fit-triq li qabad u li jhares il-quddiem b'aktar fiducja lejn il-futur.

Il-GRTU  tibqa
tinsisti ghall-gustizzja mas-sidien tal-hwienet li weggghu hafna bl-ingustizzja
fil-ligi tar-riforma tal-kera – Il-GRTU tifrah
lill-Ministru Jason Azzopardi u lill-Kabinet tal-Ministri li approvaw l-iskema
vantaggjuza ghas-sidien tan-negozji tal-Belt Valletta u tittama li dan hu pass
wiehed pozittiv u importanti 'l quddiem biex jibdew jittaffew id-dwejjaq kbar
li qed isofru sidien ta' negozji f'postijiet mikrija minghand il-privat wara
r-riforma sostanzjali fil-ligi tal-kera li kemm il-Gvern u l-Oppozizzjoni kienu
qabblu dwarha fil-parlament. 

Bir-riforma tal-lum
sidien tal-hwienet li kienu fuq kera ghal zmien qasir u qatt ma kienu jafu fejn
huma u qatt ma setghu jinvestu u jippjanaw ghat-tul issa ghandhom zmien
twil ta kera u mhux biss jistghu jippjanaw fit-tul imma jistghu jhallu
negozju lill-uliedhom u jistghu jwellu jekk jippreferu bla ma jbatu
telf fuq l-investiment taghhom. Ghall-GRTU din hi rebha kbira ghax ghall-GRTU
dan hu principju fundamentali li min jinvesti f'negozju anke jekk il-post
mhux tieghu ghandu jgawdi il-frott tal-investiment u l-impenn tieghu u li
l-imprenditur kummercjali ghandu drittijiet bhal ma ghandu imprenditur
fil-proprjeta u ligi li tirrikonoxxi id drittijiet tas-sid biss u mhux
wkoll tal-inkwielin kummercjali, hi ligi zbaljata u anti socjali u
anti imprenditorjali. Il-GRTU hekk tikklassifika il-ligi tal-kera l-Gvern
 Nazzjonalista bi qbil mal-Oppozizzjoni Laburista ghadda mill-parlament
fl-2009.

Il-ligi tal-kera kif
riformata tefghet numru kbir ta' sidien ta' negozji zghar f'inkwiet
kbir ghax sabu li dak li haddmu ghalih ghomorhom kollu, jekk mhux ukoll
generazzjonijiet shah ta' sidien fl-istess familja, qieghed issa kawza tal-ligi
gdida tal-kera idubilhom ghax b'daqqa ta' pinna il-ligi qed taghti poter
lis-sid tal-kera johdilhom kollox wara perijodu ta' ghoxrin sena (u li
minnhom baqa' ftit aktar minn 15-il sena)

Il-GRTU ilha s-snin
tipprotesta kontra din l-ingustizzja imposta fuq eluf ta' sidien
ta' negozji ghax il-ligi ma ipprovdiet ghal ebda forma
ta' kumpens jew rimedju ghal min se jitlef l-investiment kollu tieghu
u ta' familtu.

Il-GRTU ghamlet
zewg talbiet fundamentali:

L-
ewwelnett li l-Gvern jiehu passi biex ta' lanqas jirrimedja
l-ewwel ghall-inkwilini kummercjali fi proprjetajiet li taghhom
hu sid. Il-GRTU sostniet li dawn is-sidien ta' negozji zghar ghandhom
jgawdu minn terminu ta' kera twil bizzejjed biex ikunu jistghu
jinvestu u jkabbru bla biza' u jkunu f'pozizzjoni li jghaddu in-negozju
taghhom lill-uliedhom meta jigu biex jirtiraw jew li jwellu u jigbru
flushom jekk ma jkollhomx werrieta jew jekk ikunu jippreferu li
jieqfu jew jibddlu n-negozju. Il-Gvern issa b'sodisfazzjon kbir
ghall-GRTU laqgha din it-talba tal-anqas ghan-numru kbir
ta' hwienet b'kirjiet tal-Gvern li hemm il-Belt Valletta. Il-GRTU
issa tittama li din l-iskema tespandi  ghal hwienet kollha f'Malta u
Ghawdex.

Il-GRTU
insistiet ukoll u tibqa' tinsisti bla waqfien, li l-Gvern u
z-zewg nahat tal-Parlament ghandhom bla aktar dewmien jsewwu l-ingustizzja
kbira li saret mas-sidien tal-hwienet li ghandhom kuntratt ta' kera privat
li qabel il-ligi tal-kera kien indefinit u li bil-ligi tal-kera kif
riformata issa sabu li gie impost fuqhom li dak li kien indefinit sar biss
ghal ghoxrin sena u wara eghluq tal-ghoxrin sena jitilfu l-investiment
taghhom u hobzhom. 

F'Malta issostni
il-GRTU li qabel ma saret ingustizzja bhal din ma numru tant kbir ta sidinien
ta negozji . F'isem tant negozji milquta il-GRTU ripetutament talbet u tibqa
titlob rimedju u l-GRTU tibqa' issostni li il-Gvern ta' Lawerce Gonzi li wettaq ingustizzja
kbira li l-ebda Prim Ministru qabblu Nazzjonalista jew Laburista qatt ma
accetta li jwettaq, kienet x'kienet il-pressjoni li saret fuqhom.

Din hi pjaga li
tibqa tnixxi d-demm sa mal-Gvern jfejjaqha. Il-GRTU ma tiqafx tappella
lill-Gvern li qabel l-gheluq ta' din il-Legislatura ghandu jkollu
il-kuragg li din l-ingustizzja jsolviha. Il-GRTU tappella ukoll
lill-Oppozizzjoni Laburista li ghagglet taqbel mal-Gvern fuq din l-ingustizzja
li tirsisti biex din l-impozizzjoni kiefra titnehha b'emenda gusta fil-ligi
kif ilha tipproponi il-GRTU.

Il-GRTU
tawgura li l-pass pozittiv ta' llum hu pass importanti biex is-sidien
tal-hwienet li illum ma jafux fejn huma u huma tant inkwetati titnehhilhom
din l-ingustizzja u jiehdu  s-sodisfazzjon li jixirqilhom.

 

 

F'konferenza stampa li saret kmieni dalgħodu li ghaliha kien
Prezenti l-President tal-GRTU Paul Abela, il-Ministru għall-Kompetizzjoni
Ġusta, Negozji Żgħar u l-Konsumatur Jason Azzopardi, ta dettalji ta' skema
volontarja ġdida tal-kiri, li l-Gvern se jkun qed joffri lis-sidien tal-ħwienet
tal-Belt Valletta li bħalissa qegħdin jikru l-ħwienet tagħhom minngħand
il-Gvern b'kera ta' 6 xhur, 6 xhur.

Mill-500 ħanut li jinkrew mid-Dipartiment tal-Artijiet
fil-Belt Valletta, madwar 470 ilhom snin kbar jinkrew b'kera ta' 6 xhur 6 xhur.
Huwa spjega li kull min ghandu kera ta 6 xhur 6 xhur, issa se jkun jista jkollu
kirja ta' 45 sena, maqsuma fuq tlett perjodi ta' ħmistax-il sena il-wieħed.
Spjega li l-iskema volontarja se tkun miftuħa għal perjodu a' 12-il xahar li
tibda mill- 1 ta' Dicembru li ġej u tagħlaq fl-1 ta' Dicembru tal- 2013.
Il-kirja tinkludi l-kundizzjoni li l-kerrej li qed jikri l-post mingħand
il-Gvern, ikun jista' jwilli l-ħanut tiegħu lill-terzi persuni, benefiċċju
ieħor li qed jingħata peress li sal-llum dan hu pprojbit u jagħti lok għal
diversi kawzż fil-qorti. Il-ħanut għandu jinżamm f'kundizzjoni tajba. F'każ ta'
manutenzjoni u xi riparazzjonijiet li jinkludu xi strutturi, dawn għandhom
isiru kollha minn min qed jikri l-ħanut. Permezz ta' din il-kirja għal 45 sena,
in-negozji se jkollhom aktar aċċess ħieles u faċli għal kreditu mill-banek,
sabiex ikunu jistgħu jirranġaw u jirristrutturaw il-ħwienet tagħhom. 

Sabiex wieħed japplika għal din l-iskema jista, jew jimla
l-formola online mis-sit tad-Dipartiment tal-Propjeta tal-Gvern fuq
www.gpd.gov.mt mill-1 ta' Dicembru li ġej, jew imur id-Dipartiment, fil-Baviera
fil-Belt Valletta u jigbor il-formola mis-sezzjoni tal-Customer Care.

Il-President tal-GRTU Paul Abela irringrazzja lill-Ministru
Jason Azzopardi li wara t-tahdidit twal li kellna mhux biss sema it-talbiet
tal-GRTU izda ha passi wkoll. Din hija rebha mportanti ghall-GRTU. Paul Abela
gibed l-attenzjoni li meta tigi stabbilita l-ammont tal-kera ghandu jittiehed
f'konsiderazzjoni il-goodwill li matul dawn is-snin kollha ghamel sid il-hanut.

Il-GRTU tifrah bl-introduzzjoni ta` din l-iskema pero tfakkar
li ghad hemm kwisjoni important li ghada pendenti. In-negozji li ghandhom
kuntratt tal-kera antik mall-privat xorta ghand ghandhom il-kwistjoni li
l-Gvern impona 20 sena Ii issa ghad fadal 17 is-sena minnhom. Dawn huma
kuntratti li gew maqbula min zewg partijiet private. L-Gvern, parti terza,
iddecieda li jaghmel gustizzja ma sid il-kera billi jiehu minghand is-sidien
tal-hwienet li qeghdin bil-kera dak li ilhom jahdmu ghalih hajjithom kollha.
Wara li jghaddu dawn is-17 il-sena hafna sidien tal-hwienet se jispiccalhom
il-kuntratt u jittihdilhom il post li minnu ilhom joperaw dan iz-zmien kollu.
Il-GRTU u l-hafna membri affetwati ghadhom imwegghin hafna fuq din
il-kwistjoni. Il-GRTU bhalissa qeda tistenna data ghal-laqgha li l-ghan taghha
hu li jinsab bilanc. Il-GRTU hija kunfidenti jekk dan il-bilanc irid jinstab
jista jinstab u l-gustizzja issir mhux biss ma sid il kera izda ma sid
in-negozju li qed jikri ukoll.