PN Already Proposed Caregiver Skill Card, Says Opposition

Jan 5 2024

In a Press Release issues today, the PN said that Bernard Grech had already proposed the skills card for elderly home caregivers a few months ago.

The PN mentioned that on that day, Prime Minister Robert Abela was not in agreement with the Nationalist Party’s proposal.

This statement by the Opposition comes after Minister Jo Etienne announced earlier today that the skills card model will be implemented, creating a parallel system that considers various conditions and measures, including language proficiency and skills.

Previously applied to non-EU workers in the tourism sector, the skills card requirement will extend to include Maltese citizens and EU nationals by 2025.

The training and assessment program for the card will include an English test and provide workers with basic Maltese phrases. The introduction of the skills card, initially planned for this month, has been postponed to March.

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Restoration On Saint Nicholas’ Curtain Wall Underway

Jan 5 2024

Saint Nicholas’ Curtain Wall, situated between Bormla and Fgura, is being restored by the Restoration and Preservation Department. This curtain wall is located between the Bastion of Saint Nicholas and that of Saint John, together forming part of the Cottonera Fortifications designed by Antonio Maurizio Valperga, commissioned by the Knights of St John.

During a press conference addressed by Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli, it was explained that the works are being carried out with an investment of €650,000. The restoration commenced in November 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. In total, these works will cover an area of over 4,500 square meters of fortifications.

“Through these initiatives, we continue to enhance the value of our national heritage, shaping our identity as a people. The Cottonera area plays an integral part in our efforts to invest into the upkeep of our patrimonial heritage. The restoration aligns with our cultural strategy, aiming to increase the appreciation of our country’s heritage. With this restoration project, we are valorising this historical site, and preserving it for the enjoyment by the general public and the tourists who visit us,” stated Minister Bonnici.

Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli praised the work being carried out by the Restoration Department workers. She continued that the maintenance and restoration work on the curtain wall is an important measure in the preservation of Malta’s historical heritage. She concluded that the government is committed to continue working on the preservation, promotion and cultivation of all the characteristics that make up our Maltese identity.

Chairman of the Kottonera Foundation Glenn Bedingfield said, “We are pleased with the restoration work being carried out in Cottonera, and thus leading to the implementation of the strategy we have for Cottonera.”

The ongoing restoration works include cleaning, new pointing, stone repair, replacement of deteriorated stone, the consolidation of fragile stone areas and other conservation works on the stone from which this curtain wall is built.

The Bormla Local Council and Fgura Local council were also present for the press conference.

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Skills Card To Be Made Requirement For Elderly Caregivers

Jan 5 2024

Foreign caregivers hired to care for the elderly in Malta will soon be required to obtain a skills card, according to the Minister for Active Aging, Jo Etienne Abela.

This measure aims to enhance the quality of workers in the sector and streamline the employment process by reducing bureaucratic hurdles. The engagement of caregivers, irrespective of nationality, will be a focal point in the coming year.

The rising life expectancy has led to an increased demand for caregivers, with families often facing challenges in hiring live-in caregivers due to lengthy waiting lists and extensive paperwork.

The skills card model will be implemented, creating a parallel system that considers various conditions and measures, including language proficiency and skills.

Previously applied to non-EU workers in the tourism sector, the skills card requirement will extend to include Maltese citizens and EU nationals by 2025.

Minister Abela emphasized that the measures introduced will be pragmatic and include changes to regulations to ensure foreign caregivers possess basic knowledge of Maltese.

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New Directives For University Of Malta Workers Issued

Jan 5 2024

The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin has issued a series of directives directed at administrative, technical, and industrial staff at the University of Malta following challenges in collective agreement negotiations.

Commencing on January 5th, employees are instructed to refrain from using communication devices across the university campus, encompassing fixed landlines, emails, letters, SMS, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.

Additionally, staff members are advised against organizing classrooms, recording meeting minutes, or handling the scanning and photocopying of documents.

These directives come as a response to delays in finalizing a new collective agreement, as the previous agreement lapsed in December 2021. The union states that, given the circumstances and the lack of an official response, including the resumption of negotiations, they had no alternative but to issue these directives.

Affecting various university roles such as managers, child carers, periti, engineers, scientific officers, handypersons, messengers, dental surgery assistants, library workers, laboratory officers, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, technicians, IT and administration personnel, among others, these directives serve as a form of protest and leverage in the ongoing negotiations.

Directives include no communication by telephone or from the offices and various sites of the University by email, messages and/or letters, no taking minutes during meetings, no scanning or photocopying, no preparation of coffee for meetings, no arrangement of classes, no 8pm shifts, no Zoom/Teams/in-person meetings and much more.

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