The Malta Employers’ Association launched a document with proposals to update the current Employment and Industrial Relations Act, 2002. The key objective of this document is to kick start a discussion process to strengthen our industrial relations infrastructure, which is also one of the major pillars for job creation and competitiveness.
An information session was held to explain the reasoning behind these proposals, and for employers to provide their own feedback based on their own experiences. This event was an opportunity for employers to be part of this change process, and to enable the Association to be better prepared for any upcoming negotiations in the near future.
The Malta Employers’ Association in collaboration with Law At Work (Malta) Ltd and Health Maintenance Organisation organised a seminar on: Managing Injury and Illness at the Workplace on 1 March at Le Meridien Phoenicia, Floriana.
It is a known fact that managing people includes managing sickness and injuries that occur on the workplace. The aim of this breakfast session was to create a better understanding of the various aspects of occupational sickness and injury. Practical issues on the management of sick and injured employees were addressed by taking a look at the legislation and its interpretation whilst looking at sickness and injury certification from the point of view of the medical profession.
The aim of the seminar was to:
1. Understand the current legislation and practice on injury and sick leave
2. Understand the Practical Problems and Issues Faced by Occupational Doctors when treating employees
The MEA organised a Business Breakfast on: “The European Commission’s Green Paper – Modernising Labour Law to meet the Challenges of the 21st Century” on 15 February 2007.
The Green Paper is of great importance to employers, given that it touches on issues that relate to conditions of employment and deals with diverse issues of the labour market.
The scope of this business breakfast was to explain the contents of the Green Paper and also to provoke a discussion which will serve as a basis of the MEA’s response to the European Commission.
The event was very well attended by MEA members, non members and distinguisedd guests. The Malta Employers’ Association would like to thank Atlas Insurance, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions and Air Malta plc. for sponsoring the event.
The National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC) in conjunction with the Malta Employers’ Association (MEA) organised a presentation on the implications of the euro changeover to the HR function within an organisation. The presentation was delivered by Mr. Joseph F. X. Zahra, Chairperson of NECC on 6 July 2007 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.
€ day is fast approaching and the mandatory dual display period is round the corner. It is thought that the very first few days of January 2008 will be the litmus test of our euro changeover national plan. Indeed, the dual circulation period will prove to be critical for the cash handlers, for two simple reasons;
Needless to say, the human resources of an organisation will play a crucial role during the euro changeover, be it cash handlers, IT staff, or accountancy staff. The employees need to be trained, informed, and involved in an organisation’s euro changeover plan. The information has to trickle top-down the organisation’s hierarchy and an internal euro contact point has to be established to receive queries and suggestions from the bottom end.
Mr. Zahra threw light on the dual display obligations, IT conversion issues, banks’ services, statutory reporting, and pricing issues, among others.
Click here to download the presentation.
The right to privacy is a fundamental human right, which is safeguarded and enshrined in our Constitution. The enforcement of the right to privacy is facilitated by the protection of personal data from abuse.
The Data Protection Act of 2001 was enacted in Malta on the 14th December 2001, with both sides of the House of Representatives voting in favour of the Act. This continued to further confirm Malta’s tradition to cherish democratic values, foremost amongst which is the right of the individual to privacy.
The Data Protection Act 2001 provides for the protection of individuals against the violation of their privacy by the processing of personal data and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto.
The Data Protection Act was brought fully into force on the 15th July 2003, enabling data subjects to enjoy their rights under the Act.
An information session for employers about Data protection was organised by MEA on 27 May at the Phoenicia Hotel. The main speakers at this session were Mr. David Cauchi and Mr. Ian Deguara from the Commission of Data Protection. Following a presentation about the Data Protection Legislation, Dr. Charlotte Camilleri prepared a list of questions which frequently emerged when employers came to apply the provisions of the legislation. This was followed by a lively debate and questions from the floor on various aspects of data protection, ranging from the installation of CCTV cameras, to medical certificates, palm readers, and union recognition. Representatives from more than a 100 companies were present for this session.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Joe Farrugia, Director General, said that the strong attendance and vigorous interest displayed by the participants is clear proof of the importance of this topic to employers, and that although many questions were answered, the answers frequently gave rise to further questions. He said that many employers are ethical in their treatment of sensitive information and that the MEA is always there to assist them whenever difficulties arise.
The event was sponsored by Atlas Insurance PCC Ltd and the Malta Institute of Management.
On 22 February 2008, the MEA organised an information session in relation to the employers’ duty to inform and consult employees on employment and restructuring related issues.
The objective of this information session was to give participants an overview of the mechanics and implications of L.N. 10 of 2006, which in the case of undertakings employing 150 employees and over, entered into effect in January 2006, for undertakings employing between 100 and 149 employees, entered into effect on the 23 March, 2007 and for undertakings employing 50 employees and over, will be entering into effect on the 23 March, 2008. These rights are meant to add to those already enjoyed by employees.
Dr Charlotte Camilleri, Executive in EU & Legal Affairs at the MEA gave a presentation on the background and implementation of L.N. 10 of 2006. Click here to download the presentation. Ms Nicola Cassar, Senior Executive Employers’ Schemes and Services at the ETC gave a presentation on the many schemes offered by the ETC. Click here to download the presentation.
In 2006 the MEA issued an UPDATE concerning the Legal Notice. This was circulated to MEA Members. Click here to download the UPDATE.
During the last few months, MEA received a number of queries about employing retired persons. This is mainly because of changing demographics and more importantly, recent developments in the legislative environment that require clarification.
To respond to these employers’ needs, on the 25th April 2008, the Malta Employers’ Association organised an Information Session on employing persons who reached pensionable age.
Mr Joseph Farrugia, Director General of MEA gave a presentation on the Pension Reform Implications for Employers. Click here to download the presentation. Mr Frank Micallef, Director (Benefits), Social Security Department gave a presentation on the Pension Reform and Budget Measures 2008 that are affecting employers. Click here to download the presentation.
On 24 September 2008, the Malta Employers’ Association organised a Business Breakfast with the theme Employing Foreign Workers.
The Maltese labour market is becoming more cosmopolitan in nature. Many employers are employing foreign workers and currently there are more than 7,000 registered foreigners working in Malta. This figure is higher than that for registered unemployed. Employers frequently resort to employing foreign employees because of labour and skills shortages in many sectors of the economy, and it is becoming clear that the input of foreign workers is becoming an important factor for sustained economic growth.
The employment of foreign workers is a multifaceted issue and the scope of this business breakfast was to address the main concerns facing employers when employing non-Maltese nationals.
Dr Charlotte Camilleri, Executive in EU & Legal Affairs, MEA gave a presentation on the Employment Legislation and Foreign Employees. Mr Raphael Scerri, Executive Employment Licence Unit at the Employment and Training Corporation gave a presentation on the procedure for employing foreign employees. Insp. Sandro Zarb, Police Inspector (Immigration), Police Department explained the role of the Police Department in processing applications for work permits. The Hon Minister John Dalli, Minister for Social Policy delivered the closing address.
During the business breakfast, employers were given the opportunity to put forward their questions and proposals for better systems for issuing work permits for foreigners to work in Malta.
On 3 December 2008, the Malta Employers’ Association in collaboration with the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) organised a Business Breakfast with the theme Family Friendly Measures in the Private Sector – Good Business Sense.
Whilst acknowledging that there are instances where it is possible for employers to facilitate greater work-life balance for their employees, nevertheless one has to bear in mind that resources and conditions vary from one company to another and so employers cannot be placed all on the same plane.
In the local setting, domestic legislation has been amended to enhance family friendly measures and this in line with EU regulations. The breakfast breakfast analysed, inter alia, employees’ rights and employers’ obligations. Speakers dealt with the stumbling blocks employers face and how these can be eliminated or mitigated.
The Malta Employers’ Association organised a business breakfast on the 18 November 2010 about the issue of the Living Wage. The event was held at the Phoenicia Hotel and was attended by numerous employer representatives, members from constituted bodies, unions and political parties.
The seminar was chaired by Mr. Pierre Fava, MEA president and was addressed by Mr. Joseph Farrugia, MEA Director General and Dr. Joseph Muscat, Leader of the Partit Laburista. Both delivered their views about the implementation of the living wage and their presentations were followed by numerous interventions from the floor. Both speakers addressed the merits and demerits of having a living wage in Malta. Dr. Muscat stressed that any decision to implement the living wage will have to be done by consensus with the social partners, and that in any case the living wage will be a voluntary option open to employers. Mr. Farrugia explained that the concept will have to be defined more specifically to enable further discussion, and that, rather than an objective in itself, the living wage should be approached as a tool which can be compared to other means by which the standard of living in Malta can be increased. He added that the issue of relative poverty may be addressed through more focused measures targeting the less well off segment of the Maltese population.
The Association has prepared a position paper about the living wage and is being distributed to all its members. Click here to download the paper.
