Few workers apply for Air Malta’s voluntary transfer scheme, forcing extension

Jan 31 2022

Malta’s national airline has been forced to extend the deadline for the voluntary employee transfer scheme after the total applications sent in came nowhere close to the number of employees it wants to lay off.

Air Malta’s scheme was meant to end its applications by Friday, but employees received an email from Human Resources revealing that the deadline has been extended to February 11th. No reason was given as to why this occurred.

Sources have however stated that the company was not happy with the number of applications it received from workers willing to take up the offer of a job in the public sector. This comes after the government announced earlier this month that Air Malta will be operating with a much higher staff load by summer.

The workforce is set to be slashed from 890 to around 420/430. This is a move which intends to save €15 million per year, with the company aiming to see around 110-120 transferred out of the company to other governmental sectors.

Sources have suggested to Times of Malta that the low amount of applicants could be due to the lack of clarity the employees had about their future as well as the ‘grey areas’ related to their salaries and working conditions.

Sources also said that the government was involved in intensive talks with unions representing Air Malta’s different section of employees over the past week in an attempt to reach individual deals. A spokesman for the Finance Ministry said that agreements had been reached with all unions except for the General Worker’s Union, whose final approval is pending.

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Photo Source: @levik

One of the finest Starbucks outlets in the world has just opened in Valletta

One of the finest Starbucks outlets in the world just opened in Valletta

Jan 31 2022

On Thursday 27th January, the Starbucks® Reserve Bar officially opened in Valletta city centre… and the rest is history.

However, a lot of you may be asking… “what’s the difference between a Starbucks Reserve and the regular Starbucks?” The answer is simple; Starbucks Reserve offers a variety of rare and exotic high-quality Arabica coffees, ethically sourced from over 30 countries around the world. What’s more is that this brand new outlet in Valletta allows customers to experience a true articulation of creativity, with a number of handcrafted cocktails and sense-tingling selections available, coffee lovers just can’t miss out on this truly unique experience.

The outlet in Malta is inspired by the Arriviamo Bar in the Milan Roastery and the tradition of the Italian aperitivo, the store’s mixology bar offers anything from Aperol Spritz to coffee-laced creations. Coffee-lovers can count on Reserve to become a beacon of hope, where customers can count on the unique barista-customer connection whilst enjoying a superb cup of expertly roasted and richly brewed coffee every time.

Prime Minister Robert Abela was present to inaugurate the first Reserve bar of its kind in Malta, operated locally by db Group. Abela stated that such an investment not only allows the company’s level to excel but also the country’s as a whole. He went on to express his satisfaction in the fact that Malta’s hospitality sector continues to invest in Malta’s touristic product.

During the inauguration event, db Group Chief Executive Officer Robert Debono expressed his trust in the company’s local investment is greater than ever before, which is why the group has continued to invest in quality restaurant’s, maintained its staff, diversified operations and opened four of the seven expected Starbucks establishments.

Send this story to a coffee lover ASAP.

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UK set for U-Turn on mandatory COVID jabs for NHS workers

Jan 31 2022

A rule to have mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for NHS staff could be scrapped in the coming days reveal new reports. The original plans required frontline NHS workers to be fully vaccinated by April 1st of this year. Just last week, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that while this requirement was kept under review, it was the duty of healthcare staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The government has however been under immense pressure within the health service amid concerns that the mandate could lead to a staff crisis. Nearly 80,000 workers warned they could be ousted from their jobs if they refused at least two doses of the jab. The Telegraph reported that Javid is set to meet with ministers in the COVID-Operations Cabinet committee to confirm the U-turn.

This change is said to highlight Downing Street’s focus on ‘learning to live with COVID’, as well as Omicron being a less severe variant. Around 40,000 care home workers are estimated to have lost their jobs after mandatory vaccines were enforced in November last year.

The Royal College of Midwives also issued warnings that the policy could have catastrophic impacts on maternity services, with other NHS staff simply rejecting arguments for the efficacy of vaccines. The mandatory vaccine policy was only set to be rolled out in England, whereas Scotland and Wales had no plans to make the jabs a requirement. It is unclear when the government will announce the revised rule but it could be as soon as this week, prior to the February 3rd deadline for workers to receive one dose.

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Alfred Sant addresses profit made off of COVID-19 testing kits

Jan 31 2022

MEP Alfred Sant took to Facebook to address how a major problem of the pandemic is how much money and profit is being made off of COVID testing and kits.

He pointed out how in Belgium and France, a self-testing kit can be bought from a supermarket, costing around €4 to €5.50 depending on the brand. ‘The supermarket surely receives half this price’ he said.

He went on to explain that the same commercial test in a pharmacy using the same kit would cost around €25. ‘They would be doing the same thing one would do on their own with such a test. The only difference is that there would be someone else confirming that the result was not fabricated.’

Malta’s tests cost around €35 (those commercial, not government tests which remained free of charge). With France and Belgium not offering free governmental tests, he highlighted how the profits made off of every test must be enormous.

‘It stands to reason why just last week the journal French Liberation issued an inquiry into this matter. ‘The free market knows how to empty our pockets even during a pandemic’ he said.

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