The Malta Chamber and GWU to promote active ageing and address legal anomalies

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, and the General Workers’ Union signed a framework agreement on active ageing and intergenerational approach to ensure a healthy, safe, and productive working environment to enable workers to remain in the labour market and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience between generations.

The two social partners acknowledged the strong need for policies in the context of the Maltese labour market to ensure that valuable human resource and experience is retained for as long as possible. They will promote good practices through a digital tool which will be made available to the public.

Ms Marisa Xuereb, President of The Malta Chamber said “active ageing and intergenerational approach policies can be part of the solution in addressing labour market challenges. The contribution of senior professionals and workers is key to the success of our businesses and the economy.”
Ms Xuereb said that The Malta Chamber and the GWU identified legal anomalies in the fiscal treatment of workers that retire at a certain age which go against the spirit of active ageing and are committed to address these issues jointly with the Government.

“The GWU supports all workers, including those who decide to continue working after reaching their retirement age. We believe that employees with long years of experience have a lot to offer to their organisations’ culture and the rest of the team. It is important to keep promoting active ageing as these employees have a lot to offer. The intergenerational approach brings the best mixture among employees because academic knowledge and experience are the best compositions to favour businesses. This agreement is putting us in a better position to keep supporting and protecting active ageing collectively. Working hand-in-hand with The Malta Chamber is a good step in the right direction to reach our aims together. This is the second autonomies framework agreement signed together with the Malta Chamber,” said Mr Josef Bugeja, Secretary General of the GWU.

The agreement was signed by Ms Marisa Xuereb and Dr Marthese Portelli as President and CEO of The Malta Chamber respectively, and Mr Victor Carachi and Mr Josef Bugeja, President and Secretary General of the GWU respectively.