Category: Archive – 2010

Ambitious trade agreement with Peru and Colombia

On 1 March 2010, the European Commission concluded a highly ambitious trade agreement with Peru and Colombia which could be signed in May and could enter into force by early 2012.

The deal is very advantageous to members as it is subject to unusually few restrictions. European traders will even be able to deploy key management staff on the spot.

 

Negotiations launched with Singapore and Vietnam

DG Trade has decided to launch bilateral trade talks with individual ASEAN countries. In March, Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht launched free trade negotiations with two ASEAN member states: Vietnam and Singapore. 

Almost a third of European trade with the ASEAN countries takes place between the EU and Singapore, which makes the city-state by far the EU's most important trading partner in South East Asia.

Singapore and Vietnam are ready to negotiate ambitious free trade agreements which will offer great opportunities for European retailers and wholesalers.

In the last GRTU newSTRING, we inadvertently published wrong information about pharmacy opening hours in the future. We have had a meeting, along with the Chamber of Pharmacists, and we have agreed IN PRINCIPLE to the following:

 

The minimum opening hours for Pharmacies are between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm and between 4.00pm and 7.00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays. There is no other minimum set. These are minimum hours and a pharmacy is free to open longer than this, remain open during mid-day or whatever it wishes.

However, on Saturday afternoon, ONE pharmacy in every local council has to open, according to a special roster that will be published. The other pharmacies can opt to open, or close, as they wish.

There is no change in the Sunday and Public holiday roster. This will remain as before.

It is imperative that all pharmacies have affixed in a prominent place the name and address of the pharmacy required to open in their local council on Saturday afternoon and, also, the pharmacy opening in their district on Sunday.

The present situation is that together with the Superintendent of Public health, we are fine tuning a Legal Notice in order to effect this change. We will, of course, inform you when this change will take place. We expect this to happen in the coming weeks. Pharmacy owners are asked NOT to effect any changes unless given the go ahead by GRTU and the Chamber of Pharmacists.

GRTU on behalf of its members has this week written to MEPA against the project being proposed by the Naxxar Local Council on its view that the Application should be rejected.

 

GRTU argued that the application is first of all invalid since in the process of application the description contained in the site notice and on the MEPA website does not reflect the proposal. In addition the changing of traffic directions, the pedestrianisation and closure to traffic of a large area and the elimination of numerous parking is described as "embellishment work", which is clearly misleading.

GRTU also argued that it has a planning objection because whereas the development proposed by the Application is intended to reduce traffic flows and air and noise pollution in one area of the Naxxar parish square its effect will be that of doubling air and noise pollution on the other side of the parish church where it is proposed to change a one way road to a two way road by removing parking spaces. The development will not serve to protect the environment or reduce noise and air pollution but simply to relocate the problem somewhere else (in reality to a few meters away). This will in addition lead to lack of parking facilities in the parish square, which will have a ripple effect on other areas of Naxxar since individuals who do not have a private garage will still need to find a spot to park their vehicles. The conversion of a one way road into a two way road will cause a general slow-down of traffic thus resulting in increased air and noise pollution which will adversely affect: (i) residents in the area; (ii) individuals attending mass service at the parish church; and (iii) other people attending the various social clubs abutting on the proposed two-way road.

The Project will have a Deleterious Impact on Business Establishments in the Area to be Pedestrianised. ThIS area is largely dominated by shops and other business establishments which are dependant on traffic flows and the availability of parking spaces for their viability. In addition, one of the business establishments in the area consists of consulting rooms and clinics for medical doctors. This establishment is clearly dependant on traffic flows and parking facilities for the patients.

The pedestrianisation and removal of parking will make accessibility to individuals with limited mobility more difficult. The development will result in the loss of parking spaces and waiting bays designed to assist those with limited mobility and those in wheelchairs.

GRTU has urged MEPA to see through the issue and take the necessary action as in GRTU's view the application will lead to several negative effects which should in no way be encouraged.

A meeting was organised for the Swieqi Business Community (SBC) by the Swieqi Local Council on Monday 12^th April 2010. Hon. Dr Chris Said, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information, Mr Robert Cutajar, Mayor Mellieha Local Council, and GRTU were invited.

 

GRTU thanks Hon Dr. Said for his fruitful contribution during the said meeting and also for the interest shown towards the concerned shop owners present for the meeting, especially when the problem of parking arose.

The area discussed forms part of the Luxol grounds and falls under the Pembroke Local Council. GRTU has written to Hon Said and presented a map of the area in question. All present agreed that the area can been organised as a parking area and embellished to serve as an entrance to Swieqi.

This issue has been discussed already with the Swieqi Local Council during a meeting organised by GRTU for the Swieqi Business Community on the 5^th of October 2009.

GRTU would like to take the opportunity to thank Hon Dr Said as with his constant support this ongoing work with various Local Councils is proving highly fruitful for business in the area, residents and the locality itself.

Il-GRTU iltaqghet ma' raprezentanti tal-hwienet gewwa l-Iklin wara problemi li nqalghu dwar parking. Is-sidien  bhalissa qeghdin igawdu minn 120minute parking fiz-zona kummercjali, arrangament li l-GRTU flimkien mall-ADT u mall-Kunsill Lokali tal-Iklin ntlahaq ftit tas-snin ilu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Il-GRTU sadanittant zammet laqgha mall-Kunsill Lokali fejn gew diskussi issues relatati mall-Komunita Kummercjali gewwa l-Iklin, fost l-problemi diskussi kien hemm l-arlogg  li l-klijent f'zona timed suppost juzah, (s-sidien tal-hwienet kellhom jibdew jinfurmaw lill-Klijenti taghhom), l-wardens u alternattivi ohra ta' parking.

Il-GRTU ser torganizza laqgha mall-Kumunita' Kummercjali sabiex tkompli tiddiskuti u wara tipprezentha l-proposti lill-Kunsill.

The GRTU as member of the MEUSAC core group has once again participated in today's core group meeting. The main point discussed was the reviewing of the Working Time Directive, Directive 2003/88/EC.

 

The Directive has been if force for the last 14 years and regulates the organisation of working time, it was however predominantly based more on the aspect of health and safety. In 2004, the Commission put forward a proposal to amend the Directive, however despite two readings and a conciliation process no agreement was reached; and in April 2009 the Council and Parliament concluded that they could not reach agreement on the proposal.

Nevertheless, the Commission still believes that a review of the Directive is necessary to take into consideration changes in working patterns over the last 20 years such as:

The general reduction in total working time: average weekly working hours in the EU have decreased from 39 hours in 1990 to 37.8 hours in 2006;

The polarisation of working time between groups of workers; between the increase of part-time workers, and the fact that 10 % of all employees still work more than 48 hours a week and nearly 7% of all employees work in multiple jobs; and the increasing variation of working times throughout the year or the working life, along with more flexible practices in companies (flexitime, annualisation of working hours, time banks, time credits, etc.).

Consequently, the Commission has adopted this Communication whereby it is requesting feedback from the European social partners. This Communication constitutes the first phase of consultation. After examining the views expressed during this first phase, the Commission will decide whether EU action is advisable. If the Commission decides that it is, it will launch a second-phase consultation of the social partners at EU level. That phase will cover the content of any proposal for action.

Moreover, in parallel with these consultations, the Commission will carry out an extensive impact assessment, including an examination of the legal application of the Directive in the Member States and a study of the social and economic aspects that are pertinent for a comprehensive review of the Directive.

The Commission will be conducting an impact assessment which we hope will constitute the basis for the second phase consultation. It was explained that it has also been discussed in the Employment relations board and that the social partners have a common position.

An issue of contention seems to be the voluntary Opt Out clause which is currently used by 5 Member States for all the sectors and by 10 Member States for limited sectors. When made available by the Member States this cause would give the opportunity to individuals to work more than the 48hr average. An important clarification made was that the Directive does not apply to self-employed, who are therefore free to work as long as they deem fit.

Last Wednesday President Paul Abela and Director General Vincent Farrugia attended a conference organised by EuroCommerce in Brussels entitled "Corporate Social Responsibility in commerce – can commerce companies make the difference?" during the conference EuroCommerce launched a new internet platform on CSR.

 

Companies in commerce have a long tradition of initiating, developing and integrating responsible practices. Some 150 different voluntary initiatives are showcased on the new website, http://www.csr-in-commerce.eu/.

These initiatives range from working conditions, human rights protection and products to health and safety issues as well as social involvement. In addition, users can find general information on this website about the CSR activities of EuroCommerce members, news and events section, a document library and a stakeholder forum.

This "CSR in commerce" internet platform is part of the response of the commerce sector to the last European Commission communication on CSR of 2006, which called upon business to deliver tangible results. 

EuroCommerce Secretary General, Xavier R. Durieu, said: "The number, variety and innovative aspects of the CSR initiatives presented on this new internet platform are a clear sign of the commitment and engagement of commerce companies and associations across Europe. It is the voluntary nature of these measures that allows for so much creativity and diversity. The European Commission has until now supported the voluntary nature of CSR and I call upon the Commission to maintain this approach in the future."

The Gozo Bus Owners Associations is upset at the way its members are being continuously driven out of business by an unfair level playing field. After having stood up over two years of negotations with Government in respect to liberalisation, and after finally coming to an agreement, it now transpires that unfair competition is currently occurring in Gozo in their regard, with the blessing of the Authorities concerned.

 

An operator currently in laison with a Maltese enterpreneur has four open top buses in Gozo and we are well informed that not only is he operating hop on hop off trips but also effecting day tours with the same buses.

ADT officials were earlier this week in Gozo to discuss a number of issues with different operators in the transport sector in Gozo. As usual the Minister involved feels that GRTU, as official representatives of the Gozo Bus Owners Association, does not need to be informed of such meetings. Undoubdedtly one wonders where one gets to with such tactics…maybe some Ministers  have different agendas for different people and different Associations.

However, GRTU Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, is blessed with the heavenly fact that both Gozo and Malta are really small and even a whimper is heard all over the place. GRTU wants to make it absolutely clear to the Authorities concerned that the transport sector in Gozo is one of a kind for each and everyone. What is good for the goose is good for the …

Our members are on the continuous lookout for infringments to the norm…in the beehive we are told that these open top buses will shortly be able to collect passengers from the current bus stops available in Gozo. Unless ADT or Transport Malta want a war or really want to mess up the summer months for many visitors and Maltese too, then we would ask them to treat each and every one on the same basis.

‘Supreme' has its own explanation in my dictionary…and we asume that this is not taken for granted in an island where it seems that might is right. If over the days to come GRTU and GBOA see that someone ‘Supreme' is trying to take over a sector in Gozo, then it will be time to communicate in a different language.

Until now our language has been always to sit down and discuss, today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow until we reach an agreement. However in life there are limits to limits. When one sees bread and butter being taken away in an unfair and unlevel playing field, and the Authorities and their officials just sit there and do nothing about it , then it would seem someone ‘Supreme' has their blessing! We do hope its not the case…time will however tell…as the proof is in the pudding…TM…wake up before  the situation gets worse.

An agreement reached with the Valletta Local Council for the recovery of recyclable waste can easily be described as a feather in the cap for GRTUs fully owned subsidiary Green Mt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The agreement was signed earlier this week by Valletta Mayor Dr Alexei Dingli, Executive Secretary Simon Cauchi and Green Mts Chairman Vince Farrugia and  CEO Joe Attard.

Describing this agreement as ‘a feather in the cap' Green MTs Chairman, Vince Farrugia added that Valletta was a Council that Green Mt definately wanted on board, as it poses both challenges, collection from the domestic and also from the commercial sectors entwined in one culture

Valletta is currently recovering just over a ton of separated waste and Green Mt is targeting a minmum recovery of eight tons weekly from the capital city. Further more a number of new initiaves are provided for in the agreement , including an extensive education campaign by Eco Councillors and direct visits to commercial establishments and residents.

On their side, Valletta Mayor Dr Alexei Dingli expressed satisfaction at reaching this agreement after lenghty discussions. He outlined that although an agreement has been signed it is well noted that this is not an agreement in a brick wall but one which will be continuously upgraded for the better of the whole locality.

Valletta Local Council together with Green Mt will shortly be communicating with residents and the commercial sector so that everyone is informed of collection dates and times accordingly.