COLA Expected To Be Set At €5.24, Spunt.mt Predicts

Oct 23 2024

According to Spunt.mt, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2024 is expected to be set at €5.24. This annual adjustment, awarded to all workers, compensates for inflation experienced over the previous year.

The COLA is calculated using a fixed formula based on the minimum wage and a basket of essential products.

Spunt.mt’s economists projected the COLA figure based on inflation data published in September, ahead of its official announcement in the upcoming Budget.

According to NSO, in September 2024, Malta’s annual inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), dropped to 2.1%, down from 2.4% in August.

The highest annual inflation rates in September were recorded in Education (4.1%) and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (4.0%). In contrast, the lowest rates were in Communication (-5.1%) and Clothing and Footwear (-2.0%).

The largest upward pressure on inflation came from the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index, contributing +0.61 percentage points, driven primarily by higher vegetable prices. Restaurants and Hotels (+0.56 percentage points) and Transport (+0.30 percentage points) also contributed, reflecting increased costs in restaurant services and car maintenance.

On the downside, Communication (-0.19 percentage points) and Clothing and Footwear (-0.08 percentage points) saw price declines, particularly in mobile services and clothing.

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Expanding Horizons: Servizz.Gov’s Freephone 153 Welcomes New Services

Oct 23 2024

Servizz.gov’s Freephone 153, Malta’s largest helpline, has expanded its services with the addition of Enemalta and the Department of Animal Welfare.

Following a successful pilot project, this agreement allows Servizz.gov representatives to manage customer care calls for both entities, further extending the wide range of government services already available through the same number.

These include social, educational, tax-related inquiries, Active Aging, and more.

List of extension numbers:

Sapport – Extension 05
Tax – Extension 06
VAT – Extension 07
Capital Transfer Duty – Extension 08
Social Security – Extension 11
Active Aging – Extension 12
Education – Extension 14
Enemalta – Extension 15
Energy and Water Services – Extension 16
Animal Welfare – Extension 17
Jobsplus – Extension 18
*Budget – Extension 25
Other services – Extension 00

Freephone 153 handled an impressive 863,126 calls in 2023 alone, with an average of 3,000 daily calls. To improve efficiency and offer a better customer experience, Servizz.gov has now introduced extension numbers, allowing citizens to directly connect to the service they need.

Customers can enter the relevant extension number to quickly reach the appropriate department or receive guidance through available options for seamless service.

During the signing ceremony, Servizz.gov CEO Massimo Vella highlighted the agency’s continuous expansion of its service portfolio, with more government entities expected to join.

Enemalta Executive Chairman Ryan Fava and Permanent Secretary Sharlo Camilleri represented their respective entities during the agreement’s formalization.

*This line will be active from 29th October 2024

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New Art Exhibition ‘TOPIA’ Opens at MUŻA

Oct 23 2024

The Ministry for National Heritage, Arts, and Local Government has launched a new exhibition titled ‘TOPIA’ at MUŻA, the National Museum of Community Art in Valletta. The exhibition, by London-based artist Barnaby Barford, will run until January 19, 2025, offering a unique perspective on Malta’s rich cultural and socio-economic fabric through its local shops.

Minister Owen Bonnici emphasized Heritage Malta’s commitment to fostering cultural dialogue, highlighting how ‘TOPIA’ merges art and heritage to spark conversations about Malta’s evolving communities. The exhibition features over 11,000 photos of shops across Malta and Gozo, transformed into 1,000 hand-crafted porcelain representations. These intricate models invite visitors to reflect on the changing nature of local businesses.

MUŻA curator Dr. Katya Micallef noted the exhibition’s ability to evoke nostalgia and contemplation on the future of these shops, while Noel Zammit, CEO of Heritage Malta, underscored its cultural significance.

The exhibition also includes recorded interviews with shop owners, offering deeper insights into the people behind the businesses. Visitors can purchase the unique porcelain artworks, with proceeds supporting Heritage Malta’s community and contemporary art initiatives.

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Net Average 33 New Motor Vehicles Per Day In Q3

Oct 23 2024

In the third quarter of 2024, the stock of licensed motor vehicles rose by 3,030 from the previous quarter, reaching a total of 443,193 by the end of September, NSO reported.

Among these, 74.3% were passenger cars, 14.3% were commercial and agricultural vehicles, and 10.8% comprised motorcycles, E-bikes, PA-bikes, E-kick scooters, quadricycles, and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).

Buses and minibuses accounted for less than 1%. The net average increase during the quarter was 33 vehicles per day.

A total of 5,621 newly licensed motor vehicles were registered during this period, with 3,579 (63.7%) being passenger cars and 1,114 (19.8%) motorcycles/E-bikes/PA-bikes.

Newly licensed ‘new’ motor vehicles totalled 3,165 (56.3%), while ‘used’ motor vehicles amounted to 2,456 (43.7%). An average of 61 vehicles were newly licensed each day.

During the quarter, 6,396 vehicles were removed from the road due to restrictions, with 40.7% garaged, 31.0% resold, and 26.6% scrapped. Restrictions ended for 4,049 vehicles, primarily garaged (50.2%) or resold (48.7%).

As of September 2024, 58.4% of vehicles had petrol engines, 35.3% diesel engines, and 3.6% electric or plug-in hybrids, marking increases in electric and hybrid vehicle registrations.

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