Author: SME Chamber

Business 1st was one of the frontline offices within Malta Enterprise during the past months, working tirelessly, at some points even 7 days a week, in order to help businesses to survive this crisis, The Malta Business Weekly was told.

Marika Tonna, Business 1st CEO, revealed the operation’s scale within the last year to support businesses across Malta and Gozo, particularly regarding the issuing of the Covid-19 wage supplement scheme. “We have experienced over 158,000 business enquiries, 75% of which were related to Covid-19” she added.

Tonna is no stranger to the sector, having worked in foreign direct investment at Malta Development Corporation, the predecessor of Malta Enterprise, and public sector consultancy, before returning to Malta Enterprise as COO in 2014 and ultimately taking the reins at Business 1st.

Business 1st serves as a one-stop-shop for small-medium enterprises and self-employed individuals, where they can find all the support and guidance they need to set up, under one roof.

Essentially located at the centre in Mriehel, one can receive guidance related to the services offered by Malta Enterprise and other government departments.  Today the CfR (VAT and Income Tax) offers all the services to business from B1st and the Malta Tourism Authority, and the Environmental Health Department have permanent representatives at Business 1st.

Other entities such as Business Enhance, Identity Malta, Jobs Plus, and Customs Department, had a weekly presence at B1st pre Covid-19, which will be reintroduced soon.

What is innovative in the service given at B1st is that clients are not sent from one department to another, even if the representatives are all under one roof –clients can have one holistic meeting with different entities at one go – in most cases by the end of their meeting they would have registered their business and been given all the information required to apply for any relevant government incentives.

The busy department is jointly run by Malta Enterprise and the Chamber of SMEs but also falls under the umbrella of servizz.gov. It strives to streamline lengthy bureaucratic processes and paperwork trails. A massive digitalisation project is in the pipeline. “We have an ambitious project coming together as we speak. It involves us collaborating closely with over 30 other entities to transform our services to a one-stop online portal. Users will be able to access all the information and the services they need through a few quick questions which will signpost them accordingly without the need to repeat information.”

Tonna explained close collaboration with government departments was essential when it comes to the immense logistical operation of implementing the Covid-19 wage supplement scheme.  “Understandably given the scenario, we have had businesses right now in crisis, contacting us for advice on government measures to assist in these difficult times. Our staff has been effectively trained in managing such scenarios. However, I must say it hasn’t all been a negative picture over Covid-19. We have had many clients come to us looking to set up a business,” she said.

“For many, time off work has given individuals time to pursue a dream they have always wanted to bring to light; for others circumstances forced them to go it alone or think out of the box. It’s been amazing to see how creative some people are and incredibly resilient. What’s more, we must not neglect some sectors have done well, despite the pandemic such as home renovation and self-care businesses.”

Source: MaltaBusinessWeekly.com

Covid has made everyone realise how important tourism is for all of us, due to Malta’s limited population.

It is also clear that the tourism numbers we were used to will not return any tie soon. A tourism strategy is being put in place in order to lay out the strategy of how Malta will make itself one again attractive to tourists and make a leap of quality.

Following up the launch of the draft Malta Tourism Strategy 2021 – 2030, the Malta Chamber of SMEs is organising an online consultation meeting with the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) on Thursday 4th March at 10a.m.

During this meeting, MTA officials will present a detailed overview of the Strategy and answer your questions.

Malta Tourism Strategy (2021-2030) Summary

The Malta Chamber of SMEs will gather your feedback, which will be then formally submitted.

This strategy will have an impact on various sectors and therefore we highly encourage you to participate.

Click here to download the full Malta Tourism Strategy 2021-2030

 

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has in the past days held a meeting with Identity Malta in order to clarify a number of concerns members raised. The concerns raised are mainly related to issues in light of the pandemic. This in particular relates to a number of pending approved applications (before end of March 2020) which have been submitted and paid for with Identity Malta, which approvals had expired due to the pandemic.

Successful applications pre-31st March 2020

Identity Malta will be getting in touch with employers who had already submitted (paid) an application for a single work permit with Identity Malta before the pandemic hit (before end of March 2020).

Identity Malta will be asking employers if they would like to either.

• Extend the application and continue with the process. The Extension will be a one time extension and will be extended for 6 months (chance for employee to make arrangements to come to Malta) + 3 months (time for employee to settle all requisites once in Malta.
• Receive a voucher (Credit note) which can be used by the employer for any future application / extension etc. The Voucher will be valid for 6 months. The SME Chamber has requested Identity Malta to consider extending the eligibility period of these vouchers for those needing to utilise such vouchers at a later stage.

Identity Malta is currently contacting employers who do not have a readily set-up online account to create one. All other employers already having an online account will be receiving a registered letter by post with step by step instructions on how to select one of the above options through an online portal.

Members requiring any specific guidance or advice are encouraged to get in touch via email on or by phone on 21232881.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs will keep in touch with Identity Malta in order to be able to inform its members with any important updates.

At the beginning of this year, businesses expressed great concern about their projections for 2021 and unfortunately things have reached a stage of stalemate.

Covid has now been with us for a full year and with all the challenges this brought, including not knowing how long it will be with us and what will its real impact be, Malta still cannot move forward without a plan.

Businesses are walking into 2021 with a blindfold.

The level of economic damage the Government is doing, going one day into the next without a plan is substantial. Equally worrying would be if Government had a plan that it is keeping to itself. The Government has an obligation to communicate its economic plans and inform social partners of what this plan is. This not just for the sake of transparency but also because the Government cannot think that businesses can survive without any visibility and that any economic reform can take place without the government and without social partners being involved.

Whilst we appreciate the risk for the government in taking commitments in such a fluid circumstance, we insist that there is no choice in this. The business community is taking big risks at the moment trying to survive this crises and the government must do everything in its power to help and walk the tightrope alongside businesses.

Other countries have made different scenarios public. Other countries have a planned gradual re-opening of the economy.

Where is Malta’s strategy to reduce the numbers in the immediate? What is Malta’s economic plan for 2021? Which are the economic sectors Malta is going to diversify in?

Malta cannot continue to fluctuate one week after another around the 150-200 cases. There has not been any real improvement and the economy cannot wait any longer. We need to bring the number down so that the safe economic momentum so direly needed can start.

Four vaccines and a full year of experience of how this virus behaves have not resulted into any economic benefits. We are running very late on this.

Malta Chamber of SMEs has raised a number of concerns that were being voiced by members that have been experiencing issues since Brexit. This mainly relates to heavy bureaucracy when importing from the UK, lack of clarity on procedures and application of tax rules as well as issues related to viability of maintaining the business relationship.

The SME Chamber also made a number of suggestions in order to improve the bureaucratic burden involved.

Dr Mario Vella, Brexit Special Commissioner, understands what an adjustment Brexit will be and he is working on seeing how to improve matters in the immediate. Dr Vella explained that it is imperative for Malta to function at its best in dealing with Brexit. He also mentioned that he is studying the situation and comparing to what other similar countries are doing in order to be able to make beneficial improvements in the coming weeks.

Members experiencing issues because of Brexit need to get in touch with the Chamber of SMEs at the earliest in order to include in our meetings with the Commissioner.

A webinar which will launch the research results of the Research into the current situation of people with disabilities and employment in Malta and the Employers’ Guidelines.

This research forms part of the ESF 2.63 Project – Knowledge, Training, Communications and Support Measures in Support of Vulnerable Groups. The beneficiary of this project is the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity (MFCS), and CRPD is a partner organisation in this project. This research was commissioned through a public tender to Ernst and Young

(Malta), with Dr Anne-Marie Callus as the key expert on disability.

 

Date: Friday 26th February 2021

Time: 10.00-12.00

Register in advance for this webinar: https://universityofmalta.zoom.us/…/WN_aa7ko5hJQZ…

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

This event will be live streamed on CRPD’s Facebook Page from the Valletta University Campus. Sign Language interpretation will also be provided during the event. This online webinar will be held in Maltese.

If you require any assistance during the event or require Maltese to English interpretation, kindly contact  For more information: https://www.crpd.org.mt/employment-webinar/

The SME Chamber gladly welcomed an invitation to meet by MEP Cyrus Engerer. MEP Engerer joined the group of Maltese MEPs very recently and he explained however that work by himself and his team is already in full swing since his previous experience in working with EU institutions and structure served him well in finding solid ground fast.

MEP Engerer explained that he is a member of four committees which cover the subjects of environment, food safety, justice and home affairs as well as energy and research.

SME Chamber CEO emphasized how important it is to keep a close contact relationship between Maltese MEPs and the Chamber in view of its wide representation. MEPs should ensure that the most important pieces of legislation that impact businesses should go through a national consultation process through the social partners.

Apart from this, MEPs should be our voice against a one-size-fits-all. Business demographics in Malta show a much larger predominance of micro and small businesses and much fewer medium and large businesses. As such the overall burden of implementing rules would be much heavier on businesses and therefore on Malta.

Mr Engerer agreed and stated that even though this takes up a significant part of his work he ensures to advocate this matter at every occasion.

Bar owners will receive a one-time payment of up to €2,870 to cover the five-month period they spent shut to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo told a press conference on Friday that the €2.2million financial aid scheme for bars would be split across three categories: commercial bars, bars that are housed within a club (kazin), and bars owned by clubs.

Political party clubs have been excluded from the scheme.

While commercial bars will receive a one-time payment of €2,870, those forming part of a club will receive €1,860. Bars owned by non-political clubs will receive €1,260.

Owners must submit their applications between March 1 and March 15 Category A, Category B or Category C.

Applications will be processed within two weeks.

Bars and social clubs were shuttered in October when the number of new infections spiked.

They were set to reopen on December 1 but the measures were extended for another two months until the end of January. That date was pushed back yet again by the government earlier this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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