FHRD's role in facilitating new EIR Bill

The Foundation for Human Resources Development (FHRD) was instrumental in bringing the two major unions and the Malta Employers Association (MEA) together to put a joint proposal to Government for consideration in new employment legislation.

The Employment and Industrial Relations Bill was unanimously approved by a parliamentary committee on Monday.

FHRD president Helga Ellul, managing director of Playmobil Malta, told The Sunday Times last week that during the negotiations to draw up new legislation to replace the Conditions of Employment (Regulations) Act (CERA) and the Industrial Relations Act, the unions, the MEA and Government could not agree over conditions of public service employees, mainly about the right to strike, essential services and other key issues.

Both unions, the General Workers Union (GWU) and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM), have had representatives on the FHRD board since the foundation's inception 12 years ago. In June and July, both unions were publicly making their not dissimilar views known in the Press.

Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, who was nominated to the board by the Education and Social Policy ministries, presented a proposal to a board meeting that the FHRD act as a mediator to facilitate a meeting between the two.

"The FHRD approached the unions with the proposal and it went very well. We came to a good understanding. Then we approached the MEA, who were also opposing some issues.

"The unions met the MEA president in June. They came to an agreement on certain issues before meeting Government officials," Mrs Ellul explained, adding that the negotiations with Government were still ongoing.

The initiative was highly commended by all parties and consolidated the FHRD's role as a facilitator by highlighting its professionalism and trustworthiness.

"We felt it was an important step forward and concerns were ironed out before the situation could escalate," Mrs Ellul pointed out.

The foundation now hopes to be able to repeat the initiative in other sectors, such as the tourism and hospitality industry and the civil service. Mrs Ellul believes mediation of this nature saves time and funds, and is confident the FHRD has the necessary resources and expertise.

"The FHRD has built its reputation in the manufacturing sector but really the foundation has strong contacts in other sectors," Mrs Ellul said. Indeed, the foundation works with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Malta-EU Information Centre, and the University of Malta, among others.

Board members include representatives of the financial and telecommunications sectors, and the Malta Tourism Authority.

Established in 1990 on the joint initiative of Government and the private sector, the FHRD is an autonomous and independent body. It works in partnership with corporate members from the public and private sectors, the professional HR community of practitioners and service providers, and other key players involved in HR management and development.

It has come a long way in its efforts to promote and enhance the HR practitioner's profession, and has made some important contacts with foreign institutions.

Monthly meetings for practitioners are held to encourage networking and to animate discussions on topical issues. Workshops featuring guest speakers are often oversubscribed, warranting a second event per month.

Overseas visits are also organised to help local practitioners familiarise themselves with foreign scenarios and legislation and conditions.

A training programme called "Managing as Partners" has also been launched. Aimed at managers and union shop stewards, it goes beyond training and helps to bring people from the two sides together to shake off the 'them and us' mentality.

The foundation also compiles an exhaustive training calendar in collaboration with constituted bodies.

The FHRD represents the University of Leicester's Labour Market Studies Centre in Malta. The research centre offers a distance learning certificate, and diploma and degree programmes in human resources development which are internationally recognised and renowned.

The programmes have proved popular locally and the third student intake gets to work later this month. This important contact has also increased the FHRD's access to research material.

Last June, the FHRD was accepted as a probationary member of the European Association of Personnel Management. The association will make a two-year assessment of the foundation's promotion of good HR practice, while giving the FHRD access to European key players. Meanwhile a working relationship with the Institute of Directors has been consolidated.

The FHRD is now concentrating on its annual conference which this year is entitled "Employability - job security or lifelong opportunities?" and will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Sliema, on Wednesday.

Guest speakers include ETC deputy chief executive Felix Borg, HSBC Malta HR head Christine Davies, and IPSE chairman George W. Borg.

"Employability is very topical at the moment," Mrs Ellul explained. "Nobody in business can offer secure jobs for life and to a certain extent there is a great deal of responsibility on the employee. Employees look at companies differently and ask whether they offer learning opportunities and a career path."

She points out that employers are afraid that if they train their workforce, they will lose employees. But employers have to understand that if personnel are given opportunities to better themselves within the right environment that is performance-based, they have a better chance of retaining them.

"Good knowledge, good skills with the right attitude ensures employability," she remarks.

Poaching, she adds, will always take place but it is not the appropriate way to recruit people with the right attitude. People leave their current employment mainly because they feel there is no room for them to grow rather than for a few extra liri. Poaching, however, does happen less now.

The FHRD is holding its second HR Awards evening this year on November 22 at the Hilton Malta, under the patronage of President Guido de Marco.

There are four categories this year, up from one last year, and the awards will be presented for Best HR Strategy to Business Success, Best Training Initiative, Best HR Contribution to Micro Enterprise, and best HR Practitioner of the Year.

Mrs Ellul said the foundation had worked hard to improve on last year's edition for which there had been a good response. So far most nominations were submitted for the training award because human resource development is still very much perceived as consisting of training only, rather than training, development and management.

"There are three pillars to human resources which are important in large and small operations," Mrs Ellul explained, pointing out that employee relations are more about recruiting candidates with the right attitude, and training is about fostering teamwork and a sound work ethic.

"The bottom line is that if your people are performing well and they have high productivity in a good environment, you are achieving," Mrs Ellul said.