LOCAL NEWS
Update by Ministry of Health
There were two new cases registered in Malta, following 905 swab tests carried in the previous 24 hours. No new recovery cases were registered. The total number of active cases now is 24.
Largest economic stimulus plan ever seen by this country to be revealed tomorrow – PM Abela
Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that tomorrow evening Government will reveal “the largest economic stimulus plan ever seen by this country”, which was possible solely because Malta never went into full lockdown. This package, insisted the PM, will strengthen and incentivise Maltese and Gozitan businesses. “It will stimulate consumption and employment”.
Among the incentives, Abela hinted that there will be incentives to encourage people to dine out and spend weekend breaks in Maltese and Gozitan hotels. Government is also intent at rewarding businesses that had invested further during these challenging times.
However, timesofmalta.com reports that the he government has scrapped plans for a mini-budget to announce new measures to boost economic recovery but will instead announce its measures in a statement by the PM. It said that these measures will be debated in Parliament on Wednesday.
#MALTA-24: LOCAL NEWS
Timesofmalta.com
Health publishes protocol for operation of childcare centres
The Health Department has published a detailed protocol on the safe operation of childcare centres. Among the guidelines is that the maximum child capacity of the centre must be six square metres per child, instead of the standard five.
Parents and children will have their temperature examined outside during drop-off. If either has a temperature or appears sick, the child will not be admitted.
Hand hygiene stations should be set up at the entrance. Childcare providers must greet children outside or at the reception area. Pushchairs or any kind of baby carriers, as well as non-essential belongings, including toys, will not be allowed.
Maltatoday
Air Malta pilots ‘surprised’ by lay-offs after proposing 50% salary cut
The union of airline pilots (ALPA) has claimed a decision by Air Malta to lay off 69 pilots has come as a “complete surprise”, after pilots reportedly insisted on a €73 million early retirement pay-out. Dominic Azzopardi, who led ALPA’s negotiations with Air Malta, said in a statement that the association had approached the discussions with “the best interests of its members and with the intention of ensuring the prosperity and the long- term viability of Malta’s national airline.”
He said ALPA had presented concrete and feasible proposals, as well as significant cost- cutting measures, that could strengthen the airline.
He also said ALPA was refuting “allegations” on the union’s demands as unfounded and a cover-up.
“The laying-off of a significant portion of Air Malta’s pilot fleet will be detrimental to the airline’s future. The company’s decision to proceed with the contemplated redundancies underlines the use of the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to do away with the current conditions of employment for its workers, whilst, on the other hand, ensuring that excessively generous packages for those in the higher tiers of the company’s management are retained,” Azzopardi said.
ALPA had consented to a 50% pay cut throughout the duration of the pandemic, after first refusing a radical €1,200 monthly take-home pay.
Independent
‘Prickly pears’: Tax hikes expected to repay EU aid, finance recovery package loans
Monday’s budget will not include any tax hikes, but the official one in October could very well do, and the same could happen in the next five or six years, government sources have told The Malta Independent on Sunday.
The government, they said, may have to increase taxes to be able to pay back the millions it is getting from the European Union as Covid-19 aid as well as to be able to repay the loans it took out to finance a €2 billion economic recovery package.
Last week, the EU announced a €750 billion Covid-19 economic recovery package. Malta is set to be given around €1 billion, of which €350 million will be in grants and the rest in loans.
Finance Minister Edward Scicluna had a lukewarm reaction to the announcement, warning that this could spell trouble for Malta’s fight against tax harmonisation.
“It is good fruit, but like a prickly pear it must be handled with care,” Scicluna had told Parliament.
The issue for Malta, he said, was not only how much would be allocated for grants and loans, but how this money would be repaid. “What is peculiar in this situation is that those in need of money do not want further loans but cash,” he said. “How is this money going to get paid back?” he questioned.
Scicluna warned against getting burdened with unsustainable debts which could lead to a situation whereby fresh loans would have to be sought to pay older ones.
Printed
Malta Today reports that migrants aboard one of the Captain Morgan boats are staging a protest after suffering constant sea sickness for five weeks. The captain of the ship will steer the ship into the shore if the situation becomes dangerous.
The Sunday Times says that self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma may have deleted some of the secret recordings he had made. Europol experts discovered audio files on his computers that he had not originally given to investigators.
The Independent on Sunday speaks to sources close to the Caruana Galizia investigation who revealed that allegations made by state witness Melvin Theuma implicating former police Assistant Commissioner are not being investigated.
Kulħadd leads with the unanimous backing by parliament of Joseph Camilleri as the new Electoral Commission Principal. The outgoing Principal, Joseph Church, has been in the role since 2014.
It-Torċa announces a collaboration between the General Workers Union and MEP Josianne Cutajar to formulate measures for workers after the pandemic. GWU secretary general Josef Bugeja said that changes c=should be made in employment methods not rights.
Il-Mument follows an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia by L-Orizzont Journalist Matthew Charles Zammit. Delia said that people’s difficulties need to be overcome with politics of persuasion not arrogance.
The Sunday Times says that half of Air Malta’s pilots received an email on Friday night informing them that they were being made redundant. A pilot told the paper that their union had indicated that talks with the company were being extended.
The Independent on Sunday speaks to government officials who said that Monday’s mini budget is unlikely to carry any raises in taxes, but the October budget may be expected to in order to repay for EU recovery loans.
Malta Today reveals that 18 cases of Covid-19 in May have been traced back to an ENT ward at Mater Dei. Hospital CEO Celia Falzon confirmed that a doctor had first contracted the disease and that an investigation has been launched.
Kulħadd quotes a Central Bank report which predicts that Malta’s economy will return to its pre-Covid levels by the end of next year. The paper says that the country is expected to complete its recovery before other EU members.
It-Torċa carries an analysis by government MP Joseph Muscat who said that the economy is expected to shrink by up to 11 percent of last year until a vaccine is developed for the coronavirus.
Il-Mument publishes a plan by the Nationalist Party to restructure the way it does politics. The paper says that the vision is based on four pillars and spread over 14 different policy clusters.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Covid-19 “under control” in France
The Covid-19 pandemic is now “under control” in France, the head of the government’s scientific advisory council has said, as the country cautiously lifts a lockdown imposed in March.
Jean-Francois Delfraissy told France Inter radio: “We can reasonably say the virus is currently under control. The virus is still circulating, in certain regions in particular… but it is circulating slowly”.
Delfraissy, an immunologist, and his colleagues were appointed to the coronavirus advisory panel as authorities sought to contain an outbreak that has killed over 29,000 people in France.
Delfraissy said around 1,000 new cases were currently being reported in France per day, down from around 80,000 in early March, before the nationwide stay-at-home orders and business closures were issued.
In its latest summary of findings published on Thursday, the Sante Publique France health agency estimated that the country had 151,325 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of 2 June, when restaurants across France were allowed to reopen.
EU Corner – by Comuniq.EU via Reuters
British PM offers to accept EU tariffs on some goods to win trade dea
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is willing to accept European Union tariffs on some UK goods in an attempt to win a trade deal and break the deadlock in talks with the EU.
Britain’s chief negotiator, David Frost, had made a new offer, the newspaper said, citing sources. According to the offer, the UK would accept tariffs on a small number of goods in return for the European Union dropping its demand that Britain continue to follow EU rules.
EU and British negotiators said on Friday they had made very little progress in their latest round of talks about a Brexit free trade agreement, with just weeks left to extend a year-end deadline to reach a deal.
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.
