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Malta Chamber of SMEs presents 35 proposals in Election manifest
15 March 2022
The proposals varies from fair Tax to mitigating price hikes, unfair competitiuon from Sicily, Cyber Crime protection and good governance amongst others
The Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Agius Mamo on Monday presented 35 election proposals for the consideration of the political parties.
Agius Mamo presented the election manifest during the Leaders for SMEs event, during which Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech addressed SMEs and replied to questions made by members of the SME Chamber.
Ms Agius Mamo remarked that both the Labour and Nationalist Parties are pledging a reduction in tax for businesses. She appealed that this measure does not discriminate between big companies and the self-employed.
Amongst the SME chamber proposals, the chamber is calling for the removal of excise tax especially on personal hygiene products.
Click here to view the full election manifest
The Chamber of SMEs is proposing that more accountability is needed when awarding direct orders and when dealing with public procurement to ensure a level playing field. It also suggested the setting up of a regulator to oversee public procurement and direct orders.
SMEs Chamber President Paul Abela referred to the height of the pandemic and said that following discussions with the government, the salary supplement was issued which he described as a measure that saved some 100,000 jobs and was the success of everything.
Paul Abela warned that problems would not stop once Malta is off the grey list, he added that once Malta comes of the grey list – a list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force – the country would have to start from the beginning.
Abela also highlighted the problems businesses face while banking. There is increased bureaucracy, the president said, noting how businesses are being asked to fill in forms by a certain date, otherwise the bank would close their accounts.
Referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said that the country has to consider how it will meet the challenges of energy, gas and grain prices.
