Category: Press Releases

The Malta Chamber of SMEs – Landlords Sector reaffirms its commitment to promote a safe, fair, and respectful rental environment for all individuals involved.

Any acts of violence, discrimination, or misconduct that undermine the dignity, rights and property of tenants or landlords alike should be condemned. It is crucial that everyone in the housing sector is treated with respect and fairness, fostering a culture of understanding between landlords and tenants that is built on mutual trust.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs – Landlords Sector remains dedicated to advocating for policies that create a balanced rental framework.

We encourage all stakeholders to work together in promoting best practices that enhance the relationship between landlords and tenants, ultimately contributing to the stability and integrity of the rental market in Malta.

Interested landlords who would like to join the Landlords Sector within the Malta Chamber of SMEs may contact us at .

The Malta Chamber of SMEs welcomes Malta Vision 2050, which aims to reshape Malta’s future towards a more sustainable economy. The SME Chamber has long advocated for the need for a comprehensive national vision, highlighting this both in various fora and in its Budget proposals. In line with this vision, the SME Chamber urges stakeholders and policymakers to ensure that SMEs are placed at the forefront of this initiative. As primary contributors to the Maltese economy and the backbone of the country, SMEs must be central to the development and implementation of the Vision.

Malta Vision 2050 presents a unique opportunity to create a thriving economy that adapts to the evolving global landscape. In this context, it is essential that the voices, concerns, and ambitions of SMEs are integrated into the framework of this initiative.

SMEs account for over 99% of all enterprises in Malta, while 97.8% employ fewer than 50 employees. Our businesses are not only integral to driving economic activity; they are also vital in creating job opportunities and supporting local communities.

For Malta Vision 2050 to be truly effective, it must prioritize and recognize the needs and contributions of SMEs and the self-employed. The SME Chamber encourages that this initiative be driven by technocrats and industry experts to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs identifies several key areas where SMEs can play a vital role within Malta Vision 2050, particularly in the realms of Innovation and Technology, Sustainable Practices, and Skill Development and Training.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs remains committed to working collaboratively with government bodies, industry stakeholders, and the wider community to ensure that Malta Vision 2050 is successfully implemented and adopted.

Feedback reported to the Malta Chamber of SMEs on Black Friday results indicates mixed outcomes.

While some businesses experienced very positive sales and some reported increase in sales, others reported a decline compared to the previous year. With regards to average spend, some sectors reported lower average spend.

The performance of Black Friday was also influenced by location, with certain areas facing significant challenges.

Sectors traditionally associated with Black Friday, such as electronics, appliances and homeware achieved the best results, with many offering promotions throughout November.

Weather conditions also played a role, affecting customer turnout and sales in some areas. In contrast, shopping malls across Malta and Gozo reported strong footfall from early morning and positive sales throughout the day.

The extension of promotional offers over the month of November proved beneficial for both customers and businesses.

Businesses are also looking forward to the next two days, as most stores will keep their offers valid.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs highlights that Black Friday continues to be one of the most significant periods of the year for businesses.

Following today’s budget speech, the SME Chamber notes that this is a Budget of continuity. The continuation of energy subsidies is essential for businesses sustainability. The extension of work-life balance measures for the self-employed is a positive step forward. On the other hand, the SME Chamber notes that none of its proposals have been taken up, with businesses barely mentioned in the Budget document.

While the SME Chamber welcomes the widening of tax brackets for the lower bracket, the SME Chamber notes that the electoral manifesto promise to reduce tax for businesses from 35% to 25% has for another year not been fulfilled. This continues to place local businesses at a disadvantage when compared to foreign owned businesses who are effectively taxed at 5%.

While the SME Chamber acknowledges that the subsidy for EVs has been retained, it is being reduced from €11,000 to €8,000. We believe that the adoption of green transportation should be encouraged further.

Unfortunately, the Budget falls short in addressing other critical challenges that businesses are facing. Several serious issues were only briefly mentioned in the Budget speech, lacking the decisive action that Malta urgently needs at this stage of implementation. The serious employment related issues, such as the pressing issue of job-skill mismatch and recruitment challenges, bureaucracy and issues with the countries’ overall infrastructure, merited more attention in this budget.

The SME Chamber feels issues seriously affecting productivity have not been giventhe importance they deserve.

Malta Chamber of SMEs believes the new requirement will not curb abuse

The Malta Chamber of SMEs, representing a significant number of landlords, expresses its disappointment over the recent procedure introduced by Identita’, requiring a legal professional to witness the signatures of both landlords and tenants on the attestation form. While the SME Chamber supports increased controls to curb abuse to protect national interests and security, the new procedure fails to address the practical needs of the industry.

This change introduces unnecessary bureaucracy, especially when renting to third-country nationals (TCNs), complicating the process for both landlords and tenants. Instead of resolving long-standing inefficiencies and abuses that were allowed to occur in the past years, landlords and tenants are now being directly penalised for these systemic shortcomings.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs is particularly concerned that the new procedure will not resolve the underlying problems it is meant to address, while also placing an undue burden on landlords. and tenants, penalising the whole sector.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has put forward proposals that aim to ensure compliance while adopting a more efficient, streamlined approach.

The SME Chamber remains committed to working with authorities to find solutions that promote regulatory compliance without disproportionate burdens for those impacted by this measure.