Throughout 2020, the sectors falling under the responsibility of the Minister within the OPM had a busy year; primarily to enhance social dialogue and also to provide further support to workers.

This year, the directorate tasked with regulating industrial and employment relations, DIER, has had a very intense two years of work through Covid-19 besides other numerous initiatives.

Amendments were made to the regulations governing national holidays; for public holidays, that fall on a Saturday or Sunday, to be added to the annual leave entitlement.

Following consultation with the social partners, DIER has also set out proposals to increase paternity leave as well as provide payment for parental leave. This will be a major focus for this Ministry in 2022.

Sectors that are associated with precarious work were given more attention with increased inspections. DIER is taking the necessary steps where irregularities were found.

Apart from work to reduce the anomalies that exist in the Wage Regulation Orders, a working group was also set up to lead a consultative process for labour laws to reflect the needs and lifestyle of today's society. 

MCESD remains the most vibrant forum for social dialogue in Malta. Apart from the innumerable meetings focused on Covid response - the Council has not side-lined other central debates including the National Reform Programme and the new EU funds package.

The Research function at MCESD was given a fresh impetus with the engagement of researchers with expertise from different fields in a bid to give social partners a heads up on the topics to be discussed prior to Council meetings.

This year, the working groups set up by MCESD pre-Budget, focussed on Environmental Sustainability, Fairness, Productivity and Innovation, Fiscal Stability and Short-term Recovery Measures.

The researchers' reports were presented to the social partners and the Council aims to adopt this strategy in developing new proposals that will be presented to Cabinet in the future.

Over the last months, PBS has embarked on a transformation process that has seen changes in the corporate structure, enhancement to the management team and reviews of the operating procedures and workflows. Such an approach is being taken to secure the remit and the relevancy of the local public service media for the years to come.

The demands on the public service media are growing and changing with the way audiences consume the media. This is well crafted into PBS' vision for the future. To support this vision PBS will launch a project that will see the upgrade of its facilities and resources. Such a project will include the revitalisation of Television House into a state-of-the-art facility with modern studios and all amenities required for media production and transmission by a public broadcaster.

The second phase will be the building of a television stage with facilities for large scale productions, while the third phase will see the building of a multi-storey modern news centre with its own studios at the Malex site.

Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta (SEM) is one of the main entities that helps our citizens and organisations to unlock EU funds.

Voluntary organisations, government entities and local councils are now not only given a free and professional service when applying for EU funding, but also assisted in the implementation phase of such projects.

Such projects are translated into tangible benefits including assistance to organisations that contribute greatly to the dissemination of culture within our communities, in the improvements of towns and villages by local councils, in exchanges of Maltese youth with other young Europeans and in strengthening skills, inclusivity and consumer rights.

In the coming months SEM will focus on encouraging take up of the new EU budget for the period 2021-2027, from which Malta will be benefiting more than €2bn.

The Privatisation Unit is gearing up for a challenging 2022. Apart from ongoing major projects, such as the Marsa Horse Racing Track, the PU will be responsible for the administration of the Concession for the Rights of the National Lottery.

Next year promises to be another busy year for the entities in question. DIER, MCESD, PBS, SEM and the Privatisation Unit will therefore continue working to the benefit of all Maltese. From increasing rights to our workers, to a more accessible national broadcaster, as well as strengthened social dialogue, onwards and upwards is the only direction for these entities.

 

Carmelo Abela is Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.