Summer temperatures are rising. Children have finished their schooling period. Many parents seek to take a number of days from their vacation leave entitlement to share with their children. Thousands head towards the beaches, breaking away from their daily routines, unwinding and exercising in our blue, crystal clear surrounding waters.
When going to the beach parents with young children carry with them loads of things, beach buckets, scrapers, shovels, plastic shaped stars to be filled with sand, pick-nick coolers, chairs, towels, beach umbrellas and a range of sun blocks tubes in the form of lotions, cream, spray and water proof to protect themselves and their children from the high UV index. It is the mid-year holidaying period and many families find different ways to break-away from their daily tight schedules and commitments. Others fly or board visiting cruise ships to distance themselves from their daily activities.
It is only the few that keep up with their pressing daily commitments. Amongst these one may find the PN leadership, this year they may think of skipping their summer holidays. Dr Simon Busuttil, rightly so, stopped the Sunday political gatherings.
However, hopefully, the PN leadership will not stop from seeking, devising and preparing a completely new strategy, in sweltering hot summer days, which should see the PN gain ground and credibility again. I hope that the PN leadership is not banking to become people’s first preference by default. I rest on the belief that by now the PN leadership have realised that they have to put stouter efforts to earn credibility.
During these hot summer weeks Malta is set to plain on autopilot. By and large Malta plains safely during the hot summer weeks, save the influx of people reaching our shores in search of a better future.
But this year before many could breakaway for their summer holidays Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat was upbeat and revealed that Malta will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with China which should function as a blueprint for investment for the next five years ending in 2019.
This announcement was made last week during the Business Breakfast organised by sister newspaper The Malta Business Weekly to mark the 20th Anniversary since the publication of the first issue. The BB was organised in partnership with FIMBank and Hilton Malta. I should not forget to pen, as it was, that the BB was an excellent opportunity for the business community to air their views and concerns.
During the BB the Prime Minister announced that cooperation will take place in various fields, ranging from energy, finance, health, air services, education, tourism, culture and sport. It looks a good proposal with positive economic prospects. One hopes that the outcome will yield the desired results.
My understanding of the MOU has all the intentions to maximise Malta’s geo-strategic position which is close to North Africa and part of the EU. Turning Malta into a magnet for new business ventures is not a bad idea at all.
Though this initiative will hopefully pay good dividends it could have set peace of mind to investors and workers had the MOU been discussed thoroughly in Parliament prior the signing ceremony which is expected to take place in China sometime this week. While it is widely acknowledged, that money talks, I maintain that when attracting foreign direct investment to our shores we have to be selective. Malta’s credentials and reputation are at stake.
Human rights and the rule of law are the least common denominators.
It is not the same in China. The human rights track record of the People’s Republic of China leaves too many questions not answered. In early June this year thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong to mark the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters 25 years ago in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
While police, soldiers and security personnel circled in Tiananmen Square, checking identity cards looking for any hint that might lead people to commemorate the sad Tiananmen Square anniversary.
China labelled socialist does not meet the international labour laws minimum standards. Workers cannot freely choose their collective bargaining representatives and lack laws requiring employers to collectively bargain with employees. Millions of workers in China’s still have no say in selecting their union representatives, and no means, to bring their employers to the negotiations tables over industrial relations grievances.
Unlike Malta, China has only endorsed four out of the eight International Labour Organisation (ILO) Fundamental Conventions. The ILO deals with a wide range of labour issues. It attaches particular importance to basic economic and social as well as civil and political rights, as an essential element to improve the conditions of workers. ILO’s Conventions are international treaties, subject to ratification by ILO Member States.
While every effort should continue to be directed towards world market leaders to attract more business to our shores let’s keep our fingers crossed that this is done with great caution.
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