Author: Developers Think

It has been a very difficult 10 months for all, however the most to have been affected by the Covid19 pandemic is, without a doubt, the healthcare sector. Our hospitals have been working endlessly to keep the sick safe, and by ‘the sick’ we do not mean only those hit by the covid19 virus.

Besides our hospitals, homes for the elderly have experienced a very difficult period trying to keep the most vulnerable safe. The elderly, were and still are being kept away from their loved ones, have been practically ‘entrapped’ in their homes, and yet have been the most to have fallen victim of this horrendous killer! Could there ever be any better reason for them to be given priority when it comes to taking the vaccine?

Over these 10 months, Care Home Operators, together with their Business Section representatives within The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, have been working endlessly to keep the residents of their respective homes safe. From full lock down to a partial lock down which saw staff and elderly being swabbed for the virus regularly and elderly confined to small bubbles and then, worse, confined to their rooms. One would think that this way, all residents in homes would have stayed safe yet one must not forget that there are other ailments to affect the elderly. From diabetes to hypertension, to strokes and heart failures, all but a few of the regular occurrences in homes that lead to the residents having to go to our hospitals. The result? As long as the number of covid19 cases continue to increase amongst the public, more people contracting the virus need to be hospitalised and in turn, there is a greater chance of the elderly to come into contact with the virus itself. Simply because they had to be treated for other illnesses. Not because of their going out to socialise, not because of people working with them being indifferent or careless!

Home operators have not stopped with their measures to protect the residents in their care. An initiative taken by the homes is to build on a campaign to better educate the residents, their relatives, staff and the general public on why we should ‘be wise and immunise’, the slogan chosen for the campaign. Experts in the field have been engaged by home operators to explain the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine which is the first to arrive in our country. They explain the tests that were done to finally come out with this vaccine, they explain the myths and the facts of the vaccine and give us many different reasons why one should definitely consider getting immunised.

Let’s look at the number of people that have succumbed to the virus, let us look at their ages and let us look at our loved ones in their age group whom we could easily lose had they to contract the virus. This alone is reason enough why the elderly should be given the vaccine sooner rather than later, why they should be the ones, besides health care workers, on the very top of the list for the vaccine. No if’s or buts just facts! ‘To protect the vulnerable’ ‘to save a life’ and to give ‘more time’ to the people that have sacrificed so much for us time and time again.

Three posters, complete with QR codes for more information, have been produced by The Malta Chamber Elderly Home Operators Business Section, to accompany this campaign.

“Looking back at the notion of ‘Business Reengineering’ that was proposed by The Malta Chamber a few months back, I can now fully appreciate the vision that the organisation had for a brighter economic future,” said Prime Minister Robert Abela.

Malta’s Prime Minister was addressing a political activity on the challenges faced during the pandemic and the need to learn in order to enhance the overall quality of life through factors such as good governance, digitalisation and the green economy. During his speech, he mentioned the importance of viewing Covid-19 as a primary catalyst for much-needed change.

As he was thanking the major stakeholders that are driving and leading Malta towards a sustainable future during such a troublesome period, Abela acknowledges the forward-thinking approach that The Malta Chamber, and more specifically the President of The Malta Chamber, Perit David Xuereb undertakes to truly achieve its goal of being the true voice of business.

The element of ‘business reengineering’ was in fact the theme behind an event held during SME week, and it is very much a principle value for The Malta Chamber, especially during this challenging period of time.

Commenting on the new COVID wage supplement scheme, which was announced this week, Perit David Xuereb expressed The Malta Chamber’s satisfaction for a fairer system.

Details were provided during a press conference addressed by Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Minister the Hon Miriam Dalli.

“As Malta’s foremost business representative body, The Malta Chamber is proud to have collaborated closely with the concerned Ministry and Malta Enterprise throughout the past months, to help support our businesses and Malta’s economy at large”, noted Perit Xuereb.

“Covid has allowed us to appreciate our human resources more than ever. The scheme will continue to provide enterprises with the much-needed support to help them retain their expertise onboard. This will certainly continue to maintain a healthy employer-employee relationship, the backbone to any successful business,” said Xuereb.

Minister Miriam Dalli and Malta Enterprise CEO, Mr Kurt Farrugia explained that the scheme will be based on loss of turnover, and will not discriminate in favour of one sector rather than another. The support will be calculated according to the difference in turnover declared by a business over six months between March and October 2019, against turnover declared over six months between March and October 2020.

During the programme ‘Dritt għall-Punt’, presented by Roderick Agius on NET TV, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry President, Perit David Xuereb weighed in on the possible political, environmental and economic challenges Malta will face in the next twelve months.

Commenting on the journey towards normality, Perit Xuereb started off by saying that although 2019 was considered to be a ‘normal’ year, that did not mean that improvements were not called for. “The pandemic provided us with the right time to actually stop and think of new ways to improve our day-to-day lives, from both a business, professional and personal point of view,” he said.

Perit Xuereb emphasised the importance to continue to appreciate and benefit from the lessons learnt as a result of the experience of Covid-19. “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle was a true and real part of everyone’s lives in 2020. Let us ensure that the new habits and routines that we have adopted in the past months are cherished and improved upon in the near future,” continued The Chamber President.

Xuereb noted that until herd immunity is achieved, the Covid-19 risk will remain very much present and real. “We simply cannot stress enough the importance to follow the guidelines that the health authorities are providing, now more than ever, as the vaccine rollout is well underway. Only by acting in a disciplined manner can we hope to see the economy recuperate,” said Perit Xuereb.

“As Malta’s largest business representative body, the interest of our country’s general wellbeing is very close to our heart. As we have done in the past, The Malta Chamber is a firm believer in bringing together Malta’s smartest minds and stakeholders to work towards a common goal in an aligned, honest and energised manner. Only by joining forces, can we tackle the challenges that this year will present in an effective manner. The main stakeholders of the country need to act as responsible role models to make sure that the public is well informed and motivated” explained Xuereb.

Perit Xuereb said that it was crucial for all political and social partners and businesses alike, be aligned towards achieving the objectives of good governance and respect for the rule of law that are led by people of integrity. “Positive developments have been witnessed to achieve these objectives over the past months, but we need to remain relentless and vigilant to ensure that we leave no stone unturned in this respect. This will ensure the sustainable development of our society and our economy that will enable the true improvement of the quality life of our people based on honesty, integrity and professionalism.”

Dr George Vidal Zammit was also a guest on the programme.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is following with interest the developments related to the reopening of schools after the Christmas recess. The Chamber had stated in August and September that it was crucial for schools to remain open during this scholastic year. The experience of the first term has proved that schools are well equipped to implement social distancing, and the educational experience was a success.

The Malta Chamber acknowledges the Public Health Authorities statements in saying that there is no scientific-based evidence which shows that schools should remain closed or be shifted to obligatory virtual schooling. This will wreak havoc not only for schools and teachers themselves but more importantly, it will have long-lasting impacts on the students due to a lack of interaction with their peers and the continued pressure on working parents to stay at home leaving some economic sectors without their essential human resources at a time when the economy can least afford more interruptions.

The Chamber, therefore, calls on teachers and all state, church and independent schools to keep on adhering to the strict health protocols introduced at the beginning of this scholastic year and allow the Health Authorities to give guidance in accordance with medical evidence.

“The pandemic provided us with the right opportunity to truly appreciate and prioritise what is most important in our day-to-day lives. Covid-19 allowed us to become more sensitive towards mental and physical wellbeing. This in turn encouraged us to consume more local and fresh goods paving a move towards a healthier lifestyle,” said Perit Xuereb during an interview on the local television programme, Popolin on TVM yesterday.

The Chamber President noted that this shift in consumption would not only have a direct impact on supply and demand and therefore, a decrease in price of healthier food options but would also have a positive effect on our carbon footprint and climate change in the long run.

Commenting on the concept of a tax on food items which include excessive amounts of sugar, Xuereb said that such methods would have little to no impact on diminishing obesity levels in Malta. “The focus should be on educating and informing people of the risks associated with eating unhealthy foods in order to help control obesity levels. Introducing a tax without any sort of incentive will only put more pressure on the most vulnerable, as has been shown in studies abroad” continued Perit Xuereb.

“As we have seen throughout these past months, Covid has taught us that with the right mix of determination, education and enforcement, we can all adhere to a more safe and secure way of living,” concluded The Chamber President.

Although it is too early to share predictions regarding the outcome of the Moneyval assessment, The Malta Chamber President, Perit David Xuereb, was positive about the indications so far.

“We expect the measures the Government has been implementing to provide positive results,” said Perit Xuereb.

However, the Chamber President noted how success could not be achieved unless a unified effort was made. The Malta Chamber, as Malta’s foremost guardian of the country’s competitiveness, has taken it upon itself to lead this concerted effort, and shall endeavour, with all its resources at its disposal, to help obtain a favourable outcome for Malta, the President noted.

“It is crucial that once this assessment is behind us, all efforts are kept in place to maintain the highest of standards. We must appreciate the lessons learnt through this ordeal, and through constant proactive action and keeping transparency a priority,” concluded The Chamber President.

During the television program TVAM, The Malta Chamber President, Perit David Xuereb warned the country that although the rollout of vaccines is now well underway, achieving a pre-Covid economic situation will likely take longer than one might assume.

“As Malta’s largest business lobby group, it is our duty to share the true views of The Malta Chamber regarding the intense impact of the pandemic on Malta’s economy. The vaccine rollout is an incredibly crucial ingredient in order to move forward, but we’ll still feel the economic effects of the Covid-19 two years after achieving herd immunity,” said Xuereb.

The Chamber President explained that the country should not set up false hopes just because the vaccine is now available. “While the vaccine is a very positive development towards ‘business as usual’, it will take a while to return to a semblance of where we were in 2019. As a country, we still need to understand the true impact the pandemic had on profits, trade, customer spending behaviour and other vital commercial and economic elements,” said Xuereb.

When asked to comment on Prime Minister Robert Abela’s predictions that the economy will start recovering by March, The Chamber President noted that it will take longer and that the government should focus on designing an enhanced economic model that truly reflects the current and future realities.

“This pandemic has opened our eyes and made us realise how dependent Malta is on tourism. It would be foolish to think that tourism will reach 2019 figures during this year. Hence, it is essential to re-think our tourism strategy and focus on targeting a more intelligent type of tourism while attracting a wider variety of sectors to attain a higher level of economic equity,” concluded Perit Xuereb.

The Malta Business Bureau welcomed the news of an EU UK Free Trade Agreement, one week before the end of the transition period, which provides much legal certainty and more beneficial conditions in a wide range of important commercial areas of our relationship with the UK, despite many changes will come to effect that will nonetheless bring substantial challenges to implementation.

MBB President Simon De Cesare commented, “We are relieved that this long process that has created much uncertainty over the last four years is nearing its end. An agreement is what we repeatedly called for, and we are very pleased that now there is one to mitigate the strong impact there would have been otherwise. Nevertheless, companies engaging in commercial activity with the UK will still experience changes, as the conditions of a free trade agreement are nowhere close to operating in a single market.”

“We are confident that thanks to the information and advisory services that have been made available, companies have made the necessary preparations for this transition. However, there will still be a learning curve, both for companies as well as public authorities, once a new system comes into effect, and for this, we call on all parties to show more flexibility and understanding while ensuring compliance to the new rules,” Mr De Cesare continued.

On the agreement in general, while still having to go through the finer details, the MBB welcomes the fact that goods between the two blocs can continue to be traded free of tariffs and quotas, while meeting rules of origin criteria. Also, considering the substantial volume of agricultural and products of animal origin imports from the UK to Malta, it is positive that the EU already confirms that the UK meets the necessary standards to export such products to the EU.

Also, positive for Malta is the confirmation that all means of transport will continue to take place uninterrupted, with short term visitors not requiring a visa. There are also commitments on the safeguarding of passenger rights.

The wider impact in the area of services needs further understanding, particularly as the EU and UK have only issued declarations for the purpose of the agreement, but negotiations will continue in specific areas such as financial services and free movement of data in the coming months.

Meanwhile, challenges are expected in the recognition of professional qualifications where there is no specific arrangement outlined other than a commitment for regulators on both sides to work together to establish a mutual recognition system sometime in the future.

Also disappointing is that the UK will be leaving the educational Erasmus programme, which benefits thousands of students, and particularly Maltese students, who often opt to undertake part of their studies in UK universities.

Moving forward, and considering the time constraints, the MBB augurs that the ratification process of the agreement goes as swiftly and smoothly as possible on both sides in the coming days. This way the EU can truly start building a good trading partnership with the UK, which will provide some stability, given the current volatilities in the global economy.

Finally, the MBB encourages the Maltese Government to evaluate how Malta can benefit from the Eur5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve that has been agreed by the European Council last July, and now presented by the European Commission, to help counter the adverse economic consequences of Brexit on Maltese companies and the Maltese economy.