26 July, 2024
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry kicked off its 2024 calendar of events with an info session aiming at shedding light on the new legislation for temping agencies.
With over 100 attendees, the informative event outlined how individuals, companies or agencies engaging temporary workers will need to first obtain a license issued by authorities before being allowed to operate.
In her opening remarks, Dr Marthese Portelli, The Malta Chamber CEO, emphasised that in light of this new regulation, The Malta Chamber is once again being proactive to ensure that this legislation is adequate, proper, fair and one that respects and protects the potential employees and the employers from possible abuse. “The law should possess the flexibility and adaptability to undergo swift amendments and adjustments within a short timeframe. This ensures its ability to promptly address any identified gaps or emerging issues, while also staying in tune with the evolving trends of the times,” noted Dr Portelli.
During a fireside chat, Diane Vella Muscat, Director General at DIER said that “these regulations will be beneficial to all parties involved to ensure a better-quality standard in such operations. These Regulations will ensure that the employment conditions are according to employment law, the user undertaking will have the guarantee that the agency is licenced and licenced agencies will have peace of mind that action would be taken against agencies which are found to be operating irregularly.”
In his presentation on the main takeaways of the published regulations, Dr Matthew Brincat, Partner (Employment and Pensions) at Ganado Advocates (Bronze Sponsors of The Malta Chamber), said “Over the last few years, the supply of labour as a service has become a reality that is here to stay. The regulations published at the end of last year raise the bar so that entities that want to provide such a service are properly licenced and may be adequately monitored.”
In a video intervention, Col. Mark Mallia, Identity Malta CEO, highlighted that it is imperative that we emphasise the critical need of employing competent and skilled foreign workers, rather than going after numbers.
Lawrence Zammit, Chairperson of The Malta Chamber Employment Agencies Business Section presented the ‘Code of Good Practice’, a framework for self-regulation for those engaged in employment services. “This framework advocates high standards of ethical behaviour in conjunction with relevant legislation and addresses several key elements including; keeping an employer register, operating job boards, temping services and recruitment consultancy services, amongst others,” highlighted Zammit.
Ing. Ruben Cuschieri, Council Member and representative of The Malta Chamber in the Employment Relations Board, in his concluding remarks stated that The Malta Chamber will continue to give its input and commitment on this board to ensure that all the interests of the business community are being observed.
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