54th Industry Today

THE Malta Federation of Industry has just published the 54th issue of its quarterly journal, Industry Today, with articles covering a variety of topical issues of interest to industry and the business community in general.

In this edition, FOI director general Edwin Calleja outlined the major challenges and problems confronting Malta-based industry as soon as Malta became a member state of the European Union.

In this article, Mr Calleja stressed: "EU membership has imposed certain costs on industry that are bound eventually to give returns in terms of better standards that are the only ones acceptable in the single market. These changes were unavoidable - whether Malta joined the EU or not."

The president's message and one of the articles in the edition of the journal are dedicated to the importance of repositioning Malta's small and medium enterprises in the global market. These articles highlight the views on this important aspect of Joe Zammit Tabona, Malta Enterprise Corporation chairman; Tonio Depasquale, BoV's new chief executive officer; Professor Lino Briguglio, head of the Economics Department at the University of Malta; and Sir John Egan, president, Confederation of British Industry (CBI), who, with Mr Borg, were all key speakers during the morning session of the FOI conference, held earlier this year.

The journal also features an interview with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in which the FOI asks about the importance of industry in the economy and the initiatives Government has planned for industry; Government's intentions to implement any of the measures recommended by the FOI in view of the crucial recovery of the lost competitiveness of the economy; plans to put public finances back on track with an emphasis on reduction in expenditure; as well as the importance of the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development (MCESD).

This edition of Industry Today also presents the fourth of a series of Occupational Health and Safety Fact Files, compiled by Health and Safety Consultant Ing. Ray Spiteri, on behalf of the federation, and in collaboration with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC).

This fourth article focuses on the inappropriate behaviour of bullying at the workplace and discusses the effects of bullying on the individual and the organisation, as well as anti-bullying policies, which should be integrated into a company's safety statement. The article also provides a list of points that should be addressed in all anti-bullying policies.

In addition to the regular FOI and MBB activities sections, this issue features articles on the Equality for Men and Women, and the new FOI council members for this year. The journal includes profiles of two FOI members, Alberta Fire & Security Equipment Co. Ltd and UWT International Ltd; articles from two of the federation's sponsoring partners, Middlesea Group and Go Mobile; news from the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE); and news from the FOI sponsoring partners.