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Author: SME Chamber

Malta Chamber of SMEs and EWA starting a new pilot project to assist outlets in efficient use of energy and water

Posted on by SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs will assist a number of retail outlets in the food and beverage sector to help them become more energy and water efficient

The Malta Chamber of SMEs and the Energy & Water Agency signed a memorandum of understanding for a new pilot project “MERCA” (Managing Essential Resources in Retail through Consumption Analysis).

The Malta Chamber of SMEs will assist a number of retail outlets in the food and beverage sector to help them become more energy and water efficient, whilst gathering best practices and identify replicable areas of recommendations.

The project, will spread over two years and will identify shops within NACE G which have a mix of space heating/cooling equipment, refrigeration, lighting and process water. It is expected that the project can engage with a significant number of enterprises and certain findings can be applicable and relevant to other retail groups.

The MERCA pilot project will, amongst other actions carry out a number of energy audits within the identified establishments to characterise the energy and water usage in these sub-groups, whilst assisting these outlets with the available opportunities to implement audit recommendations. The Agency will also gather information on the consumption patterns and savings achieved. In this way, enterprises will be able to assess their performance and potentially, similar enterprises can identify the opportunity cost of changing their approach.

This pilot project will cost €50,000 and will be implemented over two years. During these two years, data will be gathered, where practices and processes will be identified to make the necessary recommendations.

Presiding over this collaboration, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli said that this project will be sustaining two important resources, that of energy and water. “Various enterprises wish to make sustainable changes in their operations, and this pilot project will be assisting these enterprises to make this change, towards cleaner energy operations,” said Minister Dalli.

Chamber of SMEs CEO, Abigail Mamo said that the SME Chamber is happy to be part of this data collection exercise and thanked EWA for their trust.

Ms Mamo said that this important data which will be gathered from Maltese retailers is truly essential for the future of our country and we’re honored to contribute to this project.

During the press conference, Energy and Water Agency CEO Manuel Sapiano highlighted the Agency’s role to raise awareness and provide support in achieving more sustainable work practices. “In line with this, the Agency has often collaborated with stakeholder representative such as the Chamber of SMEs, as they are the ones that have the pulse of the enterprises and facilitate reach out to these targeted groups,” remarked Manuel Sapiano.

Lack of harmonised rules in between countries on travel restrictions making travel unattractive

Posted on by SME Chamber

Decisions taken in the EU are one of the main causes

Global travel demand is creeping back into the limelight, even if most people are still only considering familiar destinations closer to home.

In these turbulent times, demand fluctuates from day to day based on everchanging travel restrictions. However, only 1 in 5 consumers plan to travel internationally in the next 12 months, clearly emphasizing the persistent impacts of COVID-19 decimating the industry.

Industry recovery is solely dependent on travel restrictions worldwide. Increasing emergence of variants of concern has slowed recovery even further. However, health concerns are on the decreasing trend, as vaccine rollouts coinciding with herd immunity are major players involved.

While some factors are inconsistent, travel restrictions have widely remained steadfast in preventing a quick recovery, with around one third of people blaming restrictions for lack of travel.

Safety of travel has been proven to correlate with how each country has managed the pandemic, with facets like cleanliness standards, traveling by airplanes etc. being less of a worry for countries with low infection/mortality rates.

However, 1 in 5 consumers planned an international vacation last May, revealing the underlying urge to travel abroad. The most popular type is multi-centre vacations e.g. cruises. COVID-19 testing is also a major issue, partly down to cost while also attributed with inconvenience, and the fact that each country has different restrictions makes travelling complicated, and less care-free. There is a great lack of consistency and clarity e.g. vaccine certificates, and how some countries are ahead of others; with the US notably behind on vaccine certificates.

Latest polling has shown broad support for vaccine passports, particularly in Asian countries, therefore further proving how a vaccine standard could encourage fast recovery. Despite the slower predicted recovery of leisure travel, ‘workations’ are becoming increasingly popular, resulting in a spike of flexible-date searches on Airbnb.

Business travel is much more controversial, as many corporates are predicting different outcomes, however the Middle East is a clear strong-point with the strongest demand.

In terms of markets, Europe is the only market in which travel restrictions are a greater obstacle to travel than health risks, possibly attributed to the spike of infections in early 2021 and revealing the urge of the market to recover. Research has shown people in countries with more advanced vaccine rollouts believe the situation is better globally, and are more keen to travel, particularly in the UAE.

The lack of unilateral decisions taken in the EU is also a barrier.

France has seen consistent levels of travel over time, with stable intent to travel internationally seen in how one in three consumers were looking to enjoy a vacation abroad, but most focus on domestic. Germany contains ever-increasing numbers of those seeking to travel overseas, with the outbound travel higher than their EU neighbors, however these upticks are in leisure travel only, with business travel notably stagnant. Restrictions in the UK are out of step with ones of the EU, and ever-changing volatile traffic light system has put off brits from travelling overseas, a large barrier to international travel in the UK, with most people fearing quarantine, due to their current reputation of changing countries’ status from one day to the next. Furthermore, in the US numbers of Americans planning to travel internationally are at the highest levels in months, with travel restrictions being less of a limitation for them. 

Data has also suggested that demand will mostly come from Millennials age group during the next 12 months, as they make up over half of those planning a holiday abroad. Older generations have shown stagnant or even decreasing demand despite being more likely to be inoculated, possibly as they want more reassurance.

 Travelers intending on taking three or more trips in the next year have shown to be much more likely to travel on an international holiday or for business; a clear segment for travel companies to target. This segment of people is most likely to be Americans, and least likely to be Australians.

Article by Julian Gatt – Summer intern at the Malta Chamber of SMEs

Source: https://business.yougov.com/sectors/travel-tourism

Malta’s hospitality industry slowly recovering following ‘green light’ to UK’s green list

Posted on by SME Chamber

Earlier this month Maltese business owners were left surprised and dismayed after it was revealed that the UK had left the island out of its safe-to-travel green list, however a few weeks later Malta actually made it to the UK’s green list and Malta’s accomodation sector reported up to 70% accupancy throughout summer.

UK represented 33% of all tourists arrivals in Malta in 2019 and being on the UK’s green list meant a lot.

Locally, the travel and tourism sector contributed €2.03 billion to GDP in 2019, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), accounting for approximately 17 per cent of GDP.

Following the restaurants and snack-bars, bars also re-opened and while business recovered, the hospitality industry is experiencing an understaffing crisis.

COVID-19 measures are leaving some with no other choice but to have to employ more staff.

Restaurants, hotels and bars which previously relied on self-service are having to recruit more people due to the switch to table service, and some establishments are having to employ more security personnel to manage queues, he explained.

Speaking to local media, Malta Chamber of SMEs Deputy President said that “while these restrictions aren’t new, we are really starting to feel the pinch now because tourism has opened again in a scenario where many have been forced to operate with limited staff.”

He pointed out that the chamber as well as other stakeholders were in constant discussions with the authorities to amend certain restrictions in such a way as to support business owners without putting people at risk.

One of the proposals has been to replace the ban on self-service with a protective shade of Perspex along the counter as well as floor markings for crowd control. This alone would alleviate a lot of pressure, especially from hotels and bars which depend on self-service. While Fenech said it was important to open up in a slow and cautious manner, he urged the authorities not to be conservative unless really needed.

“The economic consequences and the collateral damage as a result of some of these restrictions really needs to be taken into consideration,” he said.

Business 1st launches a new ticketing system and new DIER desk

Posted on by SME Chamber

Business 1st continued to improve their one-stop-shop services to businesses.

The Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) is the latest Government entity to enhance their One-Stop-Shop services at Business 1st, initially offering customer care services every fortnight.

As of June 22nd, DIER started to inform clients on the rights and obligations pertinent to employers, as well as the Conditions of Employment.

Business 1st also launched a new ticketing system to improve their  service and client relationship. To submit their queries, businesses may click on the following link:  https://helpdesk.businessfirst.com.mt/

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO flags inconsistencies in Malta’s COVID-19 rules

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The SME Chamber contributed to iron out inconsistencies to help the various sectors work and remove any unnecessary burdens

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Mamo throughout June continued to highlight inconsistencies In Malta’s COVID-19 Rules, from events and buses to boats and lidos.

Although Malta has lifted several COVID-19 restrictions in recent months, several businesses are still feeling the pinch and the state of play is frustrating them. 

In an interview with Lovin Malta, Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Mamo said that “what was sadly comical is that after weeks of intense discussions with the relevant sectors, presenting well thought out proposals, and waiting for some form of reply, the ‘big and important’ announcement was of moving steps backward, not forward – regressive”, refering to the Government announcement in mid-June for the reopening plan.

The SME Chamber contributed to iron out inconsistencies to help the various sectors work and remove any unnecessary burdens.

The following were the inconsistencies highlighted by the SME Chamber:

1. While seated weddings have been allowed since 1st June, all other events have been postponed to 1st July, and then only to people who can present a vaccine certificate. 

Ms Abigail Mamo said that while she agrees with weddings taking place, other events that replicate the seated wedding model – such as conferences, AGMs, gala dinners and award nights – should be allowed too. 

“We also understand that in case of the activities we proposed the risk is actually lower as there is no particular opportunity for heavy drinking and dancing as the high-level events do not offer the environment for it,” she said.

Meanwhile, despite the restrictions on events, the President’s Office recently organised a national conference, Stat tan-Nazzjon.

2. Mamo said health authorities shot down a proposal by the Chamber of SMEs for negative rapid tests to be used as an alternative to vaccine certificates for allowing people into events, and this on the grounds that such tests aren’t accurate enough.

However, rapid tests were until recently used by the health authorities themselves to randomly test arrivals at the airport.  

3. Private tourism vessel operators are being made to operate at 50% capacity (which increased to 65%), despite their vessels being open-air. Meanwhile, public buses and planes are allowed to operate at full capacity despite having enclosed spaces. 

Abigail Mamo also questioned why masks are still mandatory on vessels when they’re no longer compulsory on beaches and near pools, and why alcohol is banned on board even though it’s allowed at bars, snack bars and restaurants.

“Would you go on a half-day or full-day cruise on a boat if you’re not able to have a glass of wine or a beer with your meal?” she asked. “The sector is suffering mass cancellations of bookings and people are telling operators they will go elsewhere where they can enjoy themselves more.

4. Private buses are only allowed to operate at 50% capacity, even though public transport (where passengers change continuously) and planes (where air circulates within) are allowed full capacity. This is despite private buses often carrying groups that will be in the same bubble before and after boarding anyway.

“This is a significant dent to the viability of private bus operations,” Mamo warned.

5. While restaurants are now allowed to take up to six people around a table, lidos are only allowed to have two deckchairs next to each other – with a two metre distance between them and the next two deckchairs. This is despite lidos being open air, where your chances of catching COVID-19 are much lower.

“The surface area of lidos is being completely eaten up with the spacing and is very unattractive for very small groups of people going together,” Mamo said. “Lidos have very high maintenance costs and they need the necessary basic capacity to be able to cover their costs.”

The Chamber of SMEs head said that the situation has frustrated several of her members and that some are pondering ignoring the rules or organising a public protest.

“While they’re receiving a wage supplement from the government, this money is only being spent on covering a fraction of their employees’s wages,” she said. “We’re not in a health crisis anymore, and who will take care of my members’ mental health? It’s as though COVID-19 is the only thing that exists.

Following this article and several other contributions, the SME Chamber welcomed the increase in capacity for private tourism vessel operators and awaits further easing of Covid-19 restrictions especially those related to events, buses, boats and lidos.

The SME Chamber supports the Events, Entertainment and Arts industry

Posted on by SME Chamber

Covid-19 protocols unfair on Events sector

The SME Chamber supported it’s members from the Events, Entertainment and Arts industry especially throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. SME Chamber CEO Ms Abigail Mamo joined MEIA during their online press conference to defend their rights.
Ms Abigail Mamo stated that the private sector will no longer tolerate inconsistent and unjustifiable restrictions.
Malta has been moving ahead consistently on the health front and not only is the economy not opening at par, but Health is now even taking on a regressive approach.
Purposefully crippling businesses is not acceptable and hiding behind ‘health’, without logic, will lead to businesses no longer supporting the strategy.
Mamo stated that it is in everyone’s interest to continue this journey together but this was never meant to be a one-sided approach.

Bill to Amend Laws on Mandatory Employment of Persons With Disability

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The Bill seeks to update the provisions of the Act relating to the quotas for the employment of persons with disability

A Bill seeking to amend Chapter 210 of the Laws of Malta, the Persons with Disability (Employment) Act (‘the Act’), has been tabled before the House of Representatives.

 

The Act in its current Form

Chapter 210 currently regulates several matters appertaining to the employment of persons with disability, including, the setting of a Register of Persons with Disability, as well as the obligation on certain employers that engage more than 20 employees to employ persons with disability based on a defined quota (currently 2% of the workforce).

If the quota is not respected, the competent Corporation is empowered to ask that the employer pays an annual contribution of €2,400 per person with disability that should be in employment, up to a maximum €10,000.

An offence against the Act, on conviction, gives rise to a fine (multa) not exceeding €232.94 and/or imprisonment.

Objectives of the Bill

The Bill seeks to update the provisions of the Act relating to the quotas for the employment of persons with disability, as well as to address other consequential amendments thereto.

Key amendments

Amongst the most noteworthy amendments, the Bill proposes the following amendments:

– to remove a proviso which presently states that, for the purposes of computing whether an employer engages more than 20 persons, no account is taken of any employees who are related to the employer by consanguinity or affinity up to the third degree. Therefore, going forward it is understood that all employees, whether related or otherwise, shall be taken into consideration for the purposes of such computation.

 

– to strengthen the wording of the Act, such that in the event of a failure to respect the quota, the competent Corporation would not be empowered to ask for payment, but rather the employer will be obliged to make an annual contribution as determined by the Corporation, of not less than €2,400 per person with disability that should be in employment, up to a maximum €10,000.

 

– to eliminate the capping of €10,000 for a group of companies which is duly registered with the relevant authorities.

 

– to empower the Minister with the ability to increase the amount of contribution or maximum amounts.

 

– to introduce a concession for ‘particular employers’, such as temporary work agencies, temporary service contractors, and companies with fluctuating or seasonal levels of employment. These shall be entitled, for quota calculation purposes, to establish the true size of their workforce by counting a temporary employee as a fraction of 1, in proportion to the number of days actually worked by such employee for the calendar year.

 

– to introduce a carve-out, whereby if an employer who does not adhere to the relevant quota, but who can prove, to the satisfaction of the Corporation that it is offering equivalent hours of work to persons with a disability through an in-service or an outsourced work arrangement or, is actually providing work to a person with a disability who is officially employed by another employer, shall be deemed to satisfy the quota.

 

– to clarify that recruitment efforts, work trials and discussions with entities by an employer with the aim of employing persons with a disability, shall not exonerate an employer from the payment of the contribution.

 

– to clarify that if a person with a disability resigns within one year of employment, that employee shall still be considered for the purposes of determining the quota for the year in which such employment commenced.

 

– to add that employees who are not registered as persons with disability, but who are medically certified to be within the definition of disability, may be acknowledged by the Corporation, only for the purposes of an employer’s quota calculation.

 

With regards to the penalties established under Article 29 of the Act, the Bill proposes to do away with the imprisonment penalty and instead stipulates that failure to pay the contribution within the time established by the Corporation shall be considered to be an offence and upon conviction, a person shall become liable to the payment of the contribution and the fine (multa). This is to be read in conjunction with the existing Article 30, which provides that where an offence against the Act or any regulations made thereunder is committed by an association of persons, every person who, at the time of the commission of the offence, was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of such association or was purporting to act in any such capacity, shall be guilty of that offence unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge and that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

 

Information provided by Fenech & Fenech Advocates
Disclaimer │ The information provided on this Update does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials available are for general informational purposes only.  This Update may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information and you are advised to seek updated advice

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO participates in the 2021 UfM Women Business Forum

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The 2021 UfM Women Business Forum discussed opportunities of digitilisation for women entrepreneurs

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Mamo participated in the 2021 UfM Women Business Forum discussing opportunities of digitilisation for women entrepreneurs.

The discussion focused on how digital technology has impacted value chains and how it can enhance the competitiveness of women-owned SMEs and women’s bargaining power. Panelists discussed the catalyzing effect these technologies can have to provide access to finance and new markets, exploring their potential from the world of digital payments and e-commerce to innovation and business advocating.

The discussion was moderated by Sana Afouaiz, an Award-winning founder and director of Womenpreneur Initiative, and UN Women Advisor.

Investment opportunities in the Omani Industrial Sector

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The launch of these investment opportunities is in line with the objectives of “Oman Vision 2040”

The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman has informed that within the context of the Sultanate’s Vision 2040, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman has launched a new investment initiative comprises of 50 investment opportunities in the Omani industrial sector, with the aim of attracting more local and foreign investment.

In this respect, the Embassy stated that the 50 investment opportunities spread across multiple industries, including

– food products

-paper and paper products

– petrochemicals

– construction

– electrical equipment

– rubber and rubber products,

– waste disposal and management,

– metallurgy,

– mining and quarrying activities

– and the assembly of heating and cooling units

The launch of these investment opportunities is in line with the objectives of “Oman Vision 2040” that focuses on economic diversification, and the Sultanate’s industrial strategy.

In this regard, a number of incentives is granted to investors in the industrial sector like, for example, immediate issuance of licenses, customs exemption (for equipment, spare parts, raw materials), exemption of industrial establishments from income tax for five years, reduction of rents on land in the Duqm Economic Zone and the industrial zones of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates by 25%, starting from January 2021 until the end of 2022.

 

More information can be found through: https://t.co/FUnOYjmMaD?ssr=true