LOCAL NEWS
Update by Ministry of Health
The Health Department said that five cases of coronavirus were identified during the past 24 hours, all forming part of the same cluster of 13 cases. A total of 904 swabs were carried out.
The number of active cases has gone up to 31, while the total number of cases has reached 640.
20% of businesses still considering lay-offs – MEA
20% of businesses taking part in a survey contacted by the Malta Employers Association on Covid-19 said that they expect an increase in layoffs from now until September. However, this number reflects an improvement, with over 30% of businesses saying they might resort to redundancies back in April.
This survey was carried out before Government’s mini-budget announced earlier this week. 253 respondents took part on behalf of 300 companies, together employing around 30,000 persons.
The MEA said that 34% of respondents were not seeing anny increased redundancies in the next three months, while 46% had not taken any position as yet. Joe Farrugia, MEA’s Director General expressed his hope that the government’s measures would lower the number of employers having the need to resort to redundancies at this point in time.
Parliament debates economic regeneration plan
Government’s economic regeneration plan announced last Monday remained on the agenda yesterday with Parliament debating the measures yesterday evening. Opposition Leader Adrian Delia argued that while Government was throwing a life-saver to those who were “drowning”, the package does nothing to lift up the many who find themselves in “troubled waters”.
In particular, he noted that these initiatives ignored once again the plight of around 100,000 workers whose employment depended on business activity that was significantly hit by the economic and social restrictions but still did not benefit from the wage supplement. The PN also insisted on the need for lower electricity tariffs at a point when energy prices had reached historical lows.
Prime Minister Robert Abela refuted such claims, actually claiming that a number of workers had told him that they did not need to continue receiving the wage supplement. Instead, Government has decided to prolong this scheme until September.
He also accused the Opposition Leader that had Government listened to his insistence to take the country in full lockdown, the consequences would have been catastrophic. Abela said: “We have instilled confidence in the public and given them faith that tomorrow will be a better day. We are here to give and continue supporting those that are in need of support.”
The Opposition criticized the package for looking at today’s needs with no hint of a long- term plan, with Finance spokesperson Mario de Marco arguing that government failed to propose any incentives to attract tourists to Malta. The former PN Deputy Leader challenged Government to explain who Malta would promote itself to overcome competition from other destinations offering a relatively similar product.
Economy Minister Silvio Schembri described as an “economic miracle” the progress registered by the country since 2013, adding that the next step was to acquire leadership in the digital field. Schembri estimated that the hardest-hit businesses will be benefiting an average of €18,000 each from the initiatives announced last Monday.
Economy spokesperson Claudio Grech described the plan as “visionless” and challenged Government’s claim that the package amounted to some 900 million euro, recalling that the proposed infrastructural investment as well as tax deferrals, costing roughly 600 million euro, were already in the pipeline.
#MALTA-24: LOCAL NEWS
Timesofmalta.com
Six airlines confirm flights linking Malta to 17 airports next month
Six airlines will be offering direct connections to 17 airports in nine countries and regions, including Sicily, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg, between July and October, Malta International Airport said on Thursday.
The destinations had already been announced by the government as it negotiated ‘safe corridors’ with countries deemed safe from Covid-19. Flights to some of the countries in the government list still have to be laid on, however. MIA said the summer schedule is regularly being updated to reflect the most recent developments. The destinations and schedules so far can be seen here. They include seven airports in Germany, and two each in Ireland and Switzerland. The airlines are Air Malta, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Swiss and Luxair.
Independent
Distribution of tax refund cheques in the next few days – Scicluna
Over 210,000 employees will be receiving their income tax refund cheques in the next few days, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said in Parliament on Wednesday.
Scicluna spoke during the debate in Parliament regarding the €900 million COVID-19 economic recovery plan.
For the third consecutive year, full-time and part-time workers will be receiving their tax refund cheques. 210,000 workers will benefit from this refund, which will cost the state coffers €11.5 million.
Maltatoday
Disability commission ignored as restaurants allowed more tables outside
No consultations are taking place with the disability commission over the allocation of outside tables and chairs for restaurants to mitigate COVID-19 conditions, Oliver Scicluna said.
The head of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNDP) accused the authorities of ignoring the organisation when considering extensions for outside eating beyond original planning permits.
“Following the latest relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, we have not been consulted with regards to the extension of outside seating areas,” Scicluna told Malta Today.
The permitting system for outside tables was eased after new safety regulations required restaurants to have a 2m gap between tables. This obligation forced restaurants to reduce the numbers of inside tables, which prompted Prime Minister Robert Abela to speak of easing conditions for outside dining.
The decision prompted concern that pavements would be cluttered, making it difficult for people to walk freely.
Printed
The Malta Business Weekly leads with a survey by the Employers’ Association which finds that a fifth of companies consider laying off workers in the coming months. The number is down from almost a third in April.
The Times also quotes the study by the Employers’ Association which says that just over half of employers expect their businesses to make a full recovery. The director-general of the association expressed concern over widespread pessimism among employers.
Business Today says that retail businesses that have reopened in recent weeks came out strongly against calls by OPM minister Carmelo Abela urging them to start paying full wages to their employees again.
The Independent asks the Prime Minister whether there was a link between Konrad Mizzi’s return to Malta and the nomination of a new Police Commissioner. The Prime Minister brushed off the possibility and lauded the integrity of the new police chief.
In-Nazzjon quotes the Opposition Leader’s reaction to the economic stimulus plan announced by the government. Adrian Delia criticized a lack of long-term economic vision and said that the plan fails to provide fresh ideas for the tourism sector.
L-Orizzont speaks to economists Gordon Cordina, Alfred Mifsud and Philip von Brockdorff about the recovery package launched by the government. The paper says that the economists welcome the plan and expect it to kickstart the economy.
The Malta Business Weekly reports on the launch of Aircraft Leasing Malta, the country’s first aircraft leasing agency. Prime Minister Robert Abela said the initiative aims to create a new niche for the industry in the country.
The Times reports that the Police Economic Crimes Unit is investigating every member of the Cabinet over possible misuse of public funds to boost content on social media. In May, the Standards Commissioner found that four ministers had incorrectly used funds.
Business Today reports that notaries were stunned by the withdrawal of a directive on property sales tax, just hours after it was announced in the government’s regeneration plan. Notaries called the backtracking ‘unprecedented misguidance’.
The Malta Business Weekly says that around 4,000 companies from across Europe applied for a special fund by the EU Commission to finance innovative solutions to combat the effects of Covid-19. No company from Malta participated in the call.
The Independent reports that special directives for First Holy Communion ceremonies are being prepared by the Curia to advise parishes. The guidelines are expected to limit the size of congregations and mandate the wearing of masks.
Editorials
Today’s Times of Malta reviews recent changes in the Nationalist Party, noting how after a few years of drift and division, there are signs that the Nationalist Party is rallying. The Editorial comments on the soul-searching exercise led by party stalwart Louis Galea and a parliamentary group under Claudio Grech, the PN is about to embark on a wide-ranging policy review “to improve the party’s outreach to civil society and to develop effective policies”. The vision that emerges from these policy studies must therefore invigorate people with hope of more efficient governance and a better future. The Editor that a strong opposition is required for an effective democracy in our country.
The Independent takes Air Malta’s pilots to task, asking them to carry some of the weight of the troubles the company finds itself in. When the airport was closed in March, the airline’s turnover went down to zero. This was not an easy decision for the government to take, but the seriousness of the situation at the time required such drastic action. It argues that the choice was simple: lose part of your salary or lose your job entirely. Yet the airline pilots are refusing to accept this reality and have endangered not only their jobs but also those of their fellow colleagues at Air Malta.
The Business Today discusses realities in the manufacturing industries, recommending an important role for this sector in Malta’s economic regeneration. It welcomes government’s plans to invest 400 million euro in infrastructure, but argues that investment in infrastructure alone will not be enough. Government through Malta Enterprise must embark on an aggressive international effort to attract new manufacturing companies to Malta. ME must also entice existing factories to expand.
In-Nazzjon focuses on the most recent report by the European Commission on Malta, which provided a number of country-specific recommendations. The Editor notes how once again the lack of good governance and issues related to corruption were highlighted by the EU institution. Of particular concern for international institutions were the citizenship scheme as well as the appointment of people close to the ruling part to lead national agencies and organisations.
L-Orizzont calls for increased awareness with regard to certain issues that remain prevalent or are actually increasing in Malta’s employment market, particularly among low-income workers. This includes the fact that certain workers are being forced to accept longer hours without compensation, the male-female wage gap and exploitation of migrants at the workplace.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UK to scrap two metre distancing rule by September
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to scrap the two metres distancing rule latest by September for schools to reopen fully for the start of the new school year, the Telegraph newspaper reported.
Johnson has indicated to ministers that he is prepared to change the rule within weeks, the newspaper reported.
Earlier on Wednesday, Johnson defended what he called Britain’s “astonishing” efforts to tackle the coronavirus, rejecting accusations that with Europe’s worst death toll, his response to the health crisis was badly lacking.
But a top scientist who had advised the government said the death toll could have been halved had lockdown measures been introduced a week sooner.
An Imperial College London epidemiologist, who quit the government’s crisis response team after being caught breaking social distancing rules in May, said thousands of lives could have been saved had a lockdown been imposed earlier.
EU Corner – by Comuniq.EU
Health threats: boosting EU readiness and crisis management
The EU is proposing to substantially increase its health funding by €9.4 billion through a new Europe-wide programme, EU4Health, which aims to strengthen Europe’s health systems to respond better to future major cross-border crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 outbreak has shown the need for EU countries to better cooperate and coordinate in times of crisis and to strengthen the EU’s capacity to respond effectively to new cross-border health threats. Drawing on the lessons learnt, a new EU health programme named EU4Health aims to fill the gaps revealed by the pandemic. Member states are primarily competent for health policy, but the EU can complement and suport national measures and adopt legislation in specific sectors.
Besides better protection against and management of crises by strengthening member states’ health systems and delivering better care, the EU4Health programme also aims to improve health and foster innovation and investment.
The three main priorities of EU4Health focus on protecting people from serious cross-border health threats, improved availability of medicines and provide for stronger health systems. TheEU4Health is part of the Next Generation EU recovery plan presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 27 May in plenary. In a resolution on the post-2020 EU budget revision and economic recovery plan, adopted on 15 May, MEPs had insisted on the creation of a new stand-alone European health programme.
This daily update bulletin is being compiled for the Chamber of Advocates by CI Consulta from Corporate ID Group. CI Consulta delivers policy research and analysis, evaluations and impact assessments up to policy implementation and integration.
