The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry warned this week that the government’s failure to reimburse legitimate business for their eco-contributions is placing significant strain on their cash flow situations.

Over 200 companies are said to be waiting for the government to make good on the eco-contributions they had paid two years ago, and while the global sum of funds owed was not immediately available, at least one particular Maltese company was said to be owed in excess of e200,000.

With businesses waiting for some two years for their eco-contribution reimbursements, Chamber president Helga Ellul pointed out that the situation was compromising jobs and the financial stability of several of Malta’s businesses, which are already hard-pressed by today’s challenging economic times.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ms Ellul called on the government to abide by its commitment to refund eco-contributions paid by companies, which had dealt with their waste packaging in line with the EU Waste Packaging Directive.

She added that over two months ago, Chamber officials were promised that two legal notices dealing with the issue were to be published “imminently”, but the legal notices are to still see the light of day – despite continued appeals from the Chamber, which had itself informed its members that the situation had been resolved.

Stressing that the country’s very competitiveness and employment levels are hanging in the balance, Ms Ellul also pointed out that the Chamber had received the go ahead from the government to inform its members that the situation was addressed conclusively and that a legal notice was on its way.

That, however, was two months ago – precious time for businesses’ forward planning in today’s difficult times.

While underlining that the Chamber had little doubt that the funds would be released, no one had any idea as to when the debts would be settled – a predicament that was wreaking havoc with businesses’ plans.

In the meantime, businesses compliant with the Waste Packing Directive – ranging from importers to manufacturers, basically any business that supplies any type of packaging with its goods – are being charged double, once through the eco-contribution and another time for its waste disposal strategy.

“Uncertainty and unsolved issues are extremely harmful to businesses large and small in the current difficult economic circumstances,” Ms Ellul said. “The failure to refund what is due to law-abiding companies is both unjust and contradicts the government’s efforts to assist businesses in need through the specially set-up task force, as well as through the offering of ‘breathing space’ on VAT and other payments to companies in difficulty.”

Demanding that the situation be resolved as soon as possible, she added, “These delays are unnecessarily burdening the business community, as well as affecting and encouraging illegal practices. This situation is seriously compromising bona fide business, people’s jobs, consumer protection and tax revenues.”