Getting Things Moving

GRTU is extremely concerned that in spite of all our efforts and meetings with the Prime Minister, too many issues vital for SMEs in Malta, especially small and micro businesses, remain pending, months on end. "Really, what's going on with this government? It can't be that there's time to plan a White Rocks dream project and no time to conclude bread and butter issues effecting small businesses" comments Vince Farrugia after a high level meeting with Alfred Camilleri Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment. GRTU considers Mr Camilleri as the most effective Top Civil Servant and turns to him to get things done.

ECO Tax Exemption

Top of the agenda was the never ending saga of the implementation of the Exemption Orders from Payment of ECO Contribution for traders who are now registered with Waste Compliance Schemes. In the case of Green MT, managed by GRTU, Green MT has successfully collected and recovered more than 70% of the volume of packaging waste placed on the waste stream by Green MT members, and each member is now entitled for an exemption from paying ECO Tax. Instead of facing realities however, the Controller of EcoTax is forcing juridical action on all who do not pay even though they now pay for the collection of the waste to the Compliance Scheme. GRTU was once again promised an early solution. "For us early means today" emphasized Vince Farrugia.

Currently GRTU members in the waste logistics sector have not been paid for collection of recyclables since January 2010.

Micro Credit for SMEs

GRTU couldn't not discuss with Alfred Camilleri the endless delay in the implementation of the Micro Credit Scheme promised in the last Budget. Micro Finance has been in discussion for years. In the recent past, intelligent schemes were being operated such as the one after 1996 when an excellent Bank Guarantee Support Scheme was introduced by Government to help firms meet the impossible problems caused by the removal of the old Levies` protective mechanism, behind which many local enterprises depended. "We want a similar scheme to get SMEs moving. Micro Credit and Micro Financing Schemes cannot be left pending. All the talk about how important smaller SMEs are mean nothing if decisive action is not taken now" emphasised Vince Farrugia with Alfred Camilleri. "We cannot start talking about new proposals for Budget 2011 unless what was promised in Budget 2010 is implemented without further delay". A program of action was agreed with Alfred Camilleri and GRTU now expects progress in the next few weeks.