Category: Articles

You are invited to contribute towards our research study on Green Jobs

Climate crisis and environmental degradation are challenging sustainable economic development. Resorting to investments in a Green Economy can help overcome such challenges as well as secure a just and equitable future that improves people’s lives through the advancement of environmental and social well-being.

This green transition will affect the world of work through the creation of new jobs together with the need to reskill and upskill employees.

Jobsplus entered the research stage on Project INTERCEPT and they are currently circulating a survey among Employers and Training Service Providers.

It would be appreciated if you could participate in this survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HBX3RWV

The project will have a space of 14,000 metres squared and 30 new units will be created

The Malta Chamber of SMEs endorses the investment announced by the Hon. Minister Silvio Schembri on Monday to develop a new Industrial facility at Ħal-Far.

The SME Chamber has in the past, called on the Government on the need of further investment in new industrial zones, to be allocated for SMEs in order to assist them in growing and further expanding their business.

Malta Chamber of SMEs President Mr Paul Abela said that such investment is greatly needed to encourage SMEs to invest especially during these times, where some uncertainty remains. The project announced by Minister Schembri will have a space of 14,000 metres squared and 30 new units will be created.

Roberta Metsola was elected on the first count with 458 votes

The Malta Chamber of SMEs congratulates MEP Roberta Metsola on being elected President of the European Parliament, one of the topmost 3 positions at the European institutions.

The SME Chamber always had an open channel of communication with Robert Metsola as an MEP and we cooperated on various issues affecting Maltese SMEs.

Roberta Metsola’s new role, making her the European Parliament’s first woman president in 20 years is a very important achievement for her, but above all for Malta.

Coming from the smallest member state in the European Union, this makes it much more important for Malta and other small states. It gives a factual message that great things can be done, even with the most limited of resources.

Such positions are usually occupied by members coming from the biggest countries. To have such a position occupied by a person coming from a small state is almost unheard-of.

Dr Metsola will now hold a position of influence and therefore it’s an opportunity to put small states more on the agenda.

This election gives Malta an opportunity to celebrate tremendous positive news following the recent steak of bad news related to Malta which have tarnished Malta’s reputation. Malta is turning the corner and with this achievement, thanks to the capabilities of Dr Metsola, we’re sending a message that Malta has a lot of good to offer.

Having such a young and capable female at the help of this important institution is not just a statement for Malta but also for the EU. Malta has been made proud.

COVID wage supplement to stay for as long as needed – Prime Minister

The Malta Business Registry reminds the public that the Registrar of Companies (the “Registrar”) is accepting documentation in electronic form. All documentation that is required to be submitted to the Registrar in accordance with Maltese company law procedures, may be validly submitted electronically by making use from one of the following methods:

(a) The Malta Business Registry’s online portal

 (b) The Malta Business Registry’s electronic submissions’ email address

All registered users on the current online portal may submit the necessary documentation using the already-established simple method referred to in (a). The information needed in order to follow this step may be found on https://mbr.mt/online-filing-information/

In case that a user is not in possession of a Maltese ID Card or does not hold the necessary infrastructure of a smart card reader, method (b) referred to above may instead be followed. The user in this case is only required to have a valid qualified electronic signature (Refer to Appendix A for more information) to complete electronic submissions and be able to sign the documentation electronically. All the forms and documentation required to be submitted for registration would need to be signed using the respective qualified electronic signature as issued by the qualified trust service provider. Once the documents are signed, the user may then proceed to send the documentation to dedicated email address on 

MBR urges you to limit the submission of documents / correspondence in paper-format unless it’s absolutely necessary. If documents are delivered to their premises in Zejtun, one can either hand them over directly to our front office staff or place them in a box situated at the entrance of our premises.

If one opts for the latter option, it is important that:

1. all documents are accompanied by a covering letter listing all the documents submitted and the name and details of a contact person, and

2. placed in a sealed envelope with the name of the company/ies clearly visible.

If documents are delivered by courier, in addition to points (1) and (2) above, the envelope must clearly state the name of the Company Service Provider. Envelopes having missing information will be sent back.

If you require assistance or clarification do not hesitate to MBR:  https://mbr.mt/contact/

The Directive No 19 on the use of cheques and bank drafts in terms of the CENTRAL BANK OF MALTA ACT (Cap. 204) came into force on the 1st of January 2022.

This directive seeks to ensure the safe and effective use of cheques and bank drafts, referred to as ‘paper-based instruments’, to reduce the legal and operational risks associated with these payment instruments.

The below is a summary of the main Rules of the Directive:

The below is a summary of the main Regulations of the Directive:

As from 1st January 2022, the Malta Business Registry (“MBR”) also needs to follow this directive and thus payments by cheques and bank drafts or by cash will be allowed using the following policy:

In case of Cheques and Bank Drafts:

In case of Cash-based Transactions:

The Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with the Central Bank of Malta have recently organised a webinar about the recent regulation that establishes new rules on the use of cheques and bank drafts.

You may click on the video below and view the webinar recording.

More details about the Directive can be found on the Central Bank of Malta website (News – Central Bank of Malta (centralbankmalta.org)). Moreover, further details about the Cash (Restriction) Regulations can also be found on the FIAU website (Cash Restriction – FIAU Malta).

The Helpdesk aims to help EU SMEs by making available free-of-charge support with the completion of due diligence checks concerning EU restrictive measures compliance for specific business projects in Iran

The Due Diligence Helpdesk on EU Sanctions is an initiative funded by the European Union, building on the previous action financed under the Partnership Instrument “Due diligence for EU operators related to Iran” and the EU Sanctions Tool. It aims to support EU businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), that are willing to engage with Iran, to do so legitimately, in compliance with EU legislation and within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA).

The Helpdesk provides EU SMEs with free-of-charge due diligence verifications on specific business projects in Iran, assessing their compliance with EU restrictive measures (sanctions).

The objective is to reassure EU SMEs and their financing partner institutions regarding the legitimacy of their intended business activities in Iran, thus demonstrating the EU’s continued commitment to the JCPoA.

The free-of-charge services of the Due Diligence Helpdesk on EU Sanctions include:

Helpdesk Enquiry Service – Confidential Consultation

Individual EU SMEs can submit enquiries via the Sanctions DD Analysis tool, accessing a panel of experts to receive confidential first-line information on their specific business case. The Helpdesk will perform due diligence verifications and inform EU SMEs about whether their planned business activities will contravene EU Sanctions.

Information Materials

EU SMEs can download information materials from the website concerning EU sanctions and due diligence requirements pertaining to Iran’s business environment. The Helpdesk also publishes a regular newsletter which describes the due diligence approaches generally adopted in the emerging business sectors of interest to EU SMEs. News items are regularly posted on the Helpdesk website to keep EU SMEs up-to-date with the most important developments in the Iranian business environment.

Webinars

The Helpdesk delivers webinars for EU SMEs conducting business in Iran. Introduced by renowned experts, they cover EU sanctions and other due diligence compliance requirements when conducting business in Iran.