Category: Archive – 2013

Transport Malta will be introducing a
Certificate of Professional Competence for Professional Drivers (Driver CPC),
based on the requirements of European Union Directive 2003/59/EC.

The Driver CPC consists of two
distinct elements:

The Driver CPC involves two parts:

a) The initial qualification which
is obtained following a training programme        and
requires the driver to pass theoretical and practical tests and is compulsory
for all those     drivers who obtained
their driving licence in category C or C1 after the 10th of September 2009;

b) The ongoing periodical training
of 35 hours every five years, applicable to all drivers of goods carrying vehicles
in the above-mentioned category, irrespective of when they obtained their C or
C1 category driving licence.

Transport Malta will be subsidising
the first ongoing periodical training programme that will be provided by a
number of training organisations that were approved by Transport Malta to
deliver this programme. In this respect Transport Malta is urging all operators
holding a licence for the International Transport of Goods and invites them to
submit a list of all the drivers engaged by them in the transport of goods by
vehicles having a gross vehicle weight greater than 3,500kg. Such list shall
include the following details:

Name
and surname;

ID
Card number

 Address.

Telephone
number

Those drivers who already have the
CPC qualification should not be included in this list.

As a holder of a licence for the
International Transport of Goods, you are invited  to send 
the requested information at your earliest convenience. You may submit
such information either by hand at Transport Malta offices in Sa Maison, by
post or via email on .

For more information on this Driver
CPC you may contact TM on 25608 165 or on the afore-mentioned email address.
You may also contact GRTU on 21 230459 or on email address

Wara laqgha kordjali li l-GRTU kellha
mas-Sur Charles Azzopardi, Sindku, Kunsill Lokali Rabat gie deciz li ssir
laqgha ghas sidien tal-hwienet fejn jigi discuss fid-dettal l-progett ta'
tisbiegh gewwa Triq Santa Rita. Il-Laqgha ser issir fl-ewwel gimgha ta' Ottubru
fejn s-Sindku jispjega fid-dettal x-xoghlijiet li ser jsiru.

Il-GRTU flimkien mall-Kunsill
jistiednu lis-sidien tal-hwienet sabiex jattendu ghall-laqgha fejn jkollhom
l-opportunita' li jippartecipaw u jaghti l-opinjonijiet u proposti taghhom.
X-xoghlijiet ta' tisbieh ser jibdew fl-2014 u ser jiehdu ammont sostanzjali ta'
zmien sabiex jitlestew.

Raprezentanti mill-GRTU flimkien
mall-Kunsill ser jzuru l-hwienet l-gimgha d-diehla.

A few hundred metres away from the
idyllic village of San Lawrenz Ghawdex, lays the Ta' Dbiegi Crafts Village. During a recent visit to this Crafts
Village, GRTU officials met most of the owners and discussed their current
problems and heard their suggestions for improvements. GRTU took up immediate
action with the relevant Authorities in this regard.

First and foremost this Crafts
Village, which is well kept, should remain exclusively that what it is intended
for, a Crafts Village. I enjoyed watching Katrin at work in her pottery shop
which is her livelihood. She says however that things were not always easy and
it was her love for the arts that has kept her going through thin and thick.
Whilst working to produce her pottery, she stops on and off to deal with
customers as they wander through her well organised outlet. Although one must
say, I was told that this September she did not see the same business level as
last years. Katrin complains about the never introduced "night tariff" as her
electricity bills for operating her ovens are exorbitant.

Whilst she understands that there
could be more footpath at the Crafts Village, she is annoyed by the fact that a
number of owners, a minimal number, have swayed away from the concept of
on-site craft manufacturing and selling. They have moved to importing and just
retailing, which without fail leaved a sordid impact not only on her turnover
but also on the Crafts Village as a whole. It goes even further with comments
on the Trip Advisor calling it is a small ‘flea market', which is not the case
at all.

GRTU, working hand in hand with the
owners, is taking steps to ascertain that current problems faced are tackled
with the Authorities, something not east as one can expect.

As a small example, the signage
outside Ta' Dbiegi, has been in need of replacement for many years. Doesn't
cost much, but who is responsible? The Ministry of Gozo said that the sign has
been ordered and should be ready soon. We hope soon is not far away. Delays are
normal even for a trivial sign, let alone other issues!

Who will drive this mentality change
in Government Ministries, Departments or Authorities? The message is clear.

We are now at a time where patience
is no longer a virtue. A number of issues relating to enforcement of Packaging
Waste Compliance have been left on the shelf. This has drastically affected the
sustainability of Green MT. We have over and over again outlined
that a level market playing field does not exist in this sector.

All this because Government
Authorities or Departments do not fork out a cent for recovery of materials and
neither do they sustain in any way the operation. Their attitude is that as
long as things are done there is no problem. Things only start changing when
the virtue of patience dies away and action is taken by the scheme.

1.  We have long requested MEPA,
the Competent Authority to write to the current 600 known "free riders" who did
comply to the legislation, to join an Authorised Scheme within 60 days.

2.  Draft Legislation to amend the
Packaging and Packaging Waste Legislation was drawn up in September 2012 and a
public consultation carried out in November 2012. The legislative draft changes
required those producers that sold consumer goods to the market to declare
consumer packaging with a scheme. This again would make sure that what Green MT
or Greenpak Co-op collect today, is actually being paying for by someone.

We are sure that the above issues can
be put in place by those who are duty bound to put them in place.

Time is running out, and fast, and if
by end October 2013, the above two issues are not addressed and put in place,
Green MT, will cease recovery of all material from bring in sites, including
their upkeep. We will thereon continue to collect the grey bag only.

Early coming week, we have a planned
meeting with Dr. Michael Farrugia who is responsible for MEPA. We duly hope
that this will end in a fruitful result. If this is not the case, we will take
all the necessary action to make sure that we go to sleep at night, and those
who are responsible stay awake.  

It is very good news for GRTU and its
members that the JEREMIE scheme has been extended and will now translate in €10
million for around 100 SMEs. Through the consultation process carried out
between August and September by GRTU on the next funding period, members
emphasized that a mix of grants and financial engineering instruments,
including loans at advantageous conditions, would be beneficial for their
investment needs.

Those that in the last years have
succeeded to benefit from the JEREMIE scheme have in fact reported very
positive experiences linked also to the advantageous conditions of the scheme
and its less rigid nature. It has been reported that by the end of June 2013,
533 Maltese SMEs had benefitted from the JEREMIE loan facility.

The European Investment Bank had a
lot of praise for Malta on the success it achieved in the administration of
JEREMIE. It is calculated that the scheme has so far given rise to an
investment within the economy of €83.5million, from the initial investment of
€10million from ERDF and national funds.

GRTU is informed that the scheme will
continue to run in same way and will also be offered by BOV that has once again
been confirmed as the local partner following the usual call for interest. The
new monetary injection has been topped up to the current allocation and
interested enterprises can start enquiring and proposing investment projects
with immediate effect. Interested enterprises can call BOV JEREMIE section on
22753303 or 22755779.

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) has been working on the development of an updated Research and Innovation (R&I) Strategy 2020 following the publication of a first draft and numerous consultations with public and private stakeholders.  The Council is now launching the updated draft R&I Strategy 2020 for public consultation. This updated draft includes thematic areas identified through the smart specialisation process undertaken over the past months. The feedback received will be used to update and finalise the document. A separate action plan for the strategy’s implementation is currently under preparation. The draft R&I Strategy 2020 can be accessed through the ‘News’ section of the MCST website (www.mcst.gov.mt).

You are kindly invited to submit your feedback to by October 9th 2013.

Please refer any queries you may have to or by phone to 2360 2121 or 2360 2125.

GRTU would like to inform you that a survey for the evaluation of the Energy Labelling Directive and some aspects of the Ecodesign Directive is now online and will run till 30th November 2013.

Please note that two versions of the survey are available:

1. A simplified version tailored at consumers and small- and- medium enterprises including multiple choice questions only.

2. A full version targeted at all other stakeholders including the possibility to also provide free text answers.

The survey can be accessed on the below link: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/consultations/201310_evaluation_of_energy_labelling_directive__en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/consultations/201310_evaluation_of_energy_labelling_directive__en.htm

As of 16^th September 2013, Green MT in collaboration with Smart Recycling Limited will introduce an immediate financial benefit for your packaging material. So the more you collect, the more the financial rebate will be. From now on, your company will be paid on delivery, there and then!

Payments for materials will be made as follows:

Euro 40 incl. Vat per ton for    Cardboard                                                 Euro 50 incl. Vat per ton for    Plastic PET

Euro 50 incl. Vat per ton for    Plastic Shrink                                             Euro 50 incl. Vat per ton for     Plastic PC

The following conditions are:      

Delivery is to be made by the company directly to the facility Smart Recycling Limited, 30, N/S in Valletta Road, Luqa by a vehicle which is registered under Legal Notice 106 of 2007. (opening hours 7.30am-4.30pm)

– Each material has to be separated.               

Upon delivery, the material will be weighed and a chit is given to the driver for data purposes if needed for your records. Apart from that the payment as agreed per ton above, will be paid instantly and also pro rata if the amount is less than one ton.

For further queries do not hesitate to call us on 99246925 Green MT or Smart Recycling Limited 99452458.

Green MT Ltd

Il-GRTU tifraħ lill-Prim Ministru, lill-Ministru Konrad Mizzi u d-delegazzjoni li jinsabu ċ-Ċina ghall-akkwist li għamlu f’isem Malta fejn issalvagwardjaw l-intenzjoni taċ-Ċina li tinvesti b’mod sostanzjali fil-qasam tal-enerġija f'Malta. Dan jinkludi, investiment dirett fl-Enemalta u l-possibiltà li titwaqqaf kumpanija li tgħaqqad il-panelli solari Ċinizi għall-Ewropa f'Malta u li Malta tintuża bħala ċentru minn fejn iċ-Ċina tagħti servizzi lill-power stations li għandha fil-Mediterran.

Dan hu pass pożittiv hafna fil-fehma tal-GRTU. Il-GRTU tirrikonoxxi liċ-Ċina bhala suq importanti hafna għal Malta u l-GRTU mhux biss tinkoraġġixxi izda wkoll tappoġġja lill-intraprizi Maltin li jahdmu ma’ kumpaniji Ċinizi. Dan għaliex iċ-Ċina toffri hafna opportunitajiet ta` tkabbir għan-negozji Maltin. Il-GRTU fil-fatt riċentement anke assistit grupp ta` imprendituri Maltin biex jippromwovu l-prodotti tagħhom fiċ-Ċina, bl-assistenza tal-Malta Enterprise.

L-investiment li ser isir għandu jwassal għal tnaqqis fil-piż li jirrapreżenta d-dejn ta` l-Enemalta li fl-aħħar mill-aħħar qed jitħallas ukoll mit-taxxi li jhallas kull wieħed minnha.

Rigward il-punti ta` l-enerġija rinovabbli l-GRTU ilha tirsisti ghal possibilita ta’ assemblagg ta’ panelli fotovoltajici f’Malta, u qeda wkoll f’diskussjonijiet mal-ministeru sabiex dan is-settur jinghata spinta il-quddiem. Għalekk tappoġġja kull investiment li jista` jiġi f’dan ir-rigward.

L-investiment għandu jwassal ukoll għal ħolqien ta` postijiet ġodda ta` xogħol. Il-GRTU għalhekk tappella lill-Gvern biex jinvesti aktar fir-riżorsi umani tagħna fejn jidħlu ħiliet tal-ħaddiema tagħna relatati ma’ xogħolijiet fis-settur tal-enerġija effiċjenti sabiex meta ikun hawn opportunitajiet bħal dawn nutilizzaw il-ħaddiema ikkwalifikati tagħna.