Updated: Methode to invest €6.5m - five day week from April

lgalea

Feb 24th 2009, 21:49

J Busuttil
The confusion is reigning supreme at the Gonezipn Busuttil.

Gianninu Saliba
Incompetent Joseph = no tax on satellite dishes, no St John destruction project, and today Gonezipn bites the dust one more time = on vehicles VAT.

Competent Gonezipn = total chaos and U-turns with a capital U.

Manuel Mifsud
As they say, proof of the pudding is in the eating and don't count your chickens before they hatch or as we say in Maltese tixtrix ħut fil-baħar għax tieklu jinten.

G. Thomas

Feb 24th 2009, 19:38

This is clearly one step in the right direction. But what about STMicroelectronics, and the hardcore engineering that goes in there? Shame on this country if we let it slip our hands...

Let's be honest with ourselves... too much food for thought for our professional engineers and the University who's playing a tough role in shaping the future of the present manufacturing companies. Are we really helping the situation?? "R&D is the future" - it was 15 years ago, we still say "it is" and very soon many will say "it was, pity". Let us not bring this with our own hands Dr. Gonzi. Listen to what the real experts have to say and never under estimate the potential the experienced professionals in these companies have. Every cent that goes in there will yield 10 times as much and multiples of it if tal-Qroqq University is given equivalent financial support to gear the young generation to what this country should have embarked on a decade ago!

V Fenech

Feb 24th 2009, 18:41

J Busuttil & Gianninu Saliba... Back to Panic Mode!!!
Workers are fed up with half-baked proposals and castles in the sky. The only thing which matters for them is their reduced working week and not how much millions are mentioned if someday Methode would like to invest. You really need to try another channel other than XibkaTV!

J Busuttil

Feb 24th 2009, 17:22

Moaning,grunbling and comments without knowing the facts well. And there is also a lakuna in not reading the article well. Please Labour folks you don't believe anything but in your inconsistent PL you have pro EU and NO EU people like Sharon Ellul Bonici,it-Trigona and Eddie Privitera.Now you have Joseph noy answering journalists about Guantanamo inmates. After all it is no surprise you are so confused. Well done Methode and well done Tonio Fenech.

David Zarb

Feb 24th 2009, 16:10

Part 2

Whilst other countries like UK, Italy, US, France etc are giving tax credits, reductions in rent and rates, reduction in VAT etc to stimulate the economy and helping their own people, in Malta, we're facing an increase in our basic rates!!!: electricity. This is simply unbelievable. Apart from all this, we're facing a daily threat to our pockets: speed cameras everywhere with an illegal speed limit: to educate us driving better!!! poor roads causing severe damages to our expensive to buy cars!, higher taxes for second hand vehicles, higher costs for services, higher cost for passports, tariffs etc.. It's all this which is ruining the fibre of our society. This is reality, let's call a spade, a spade. I really don't like to lower everything to a political scenario, but if these are facts, let's call them facts.

David Zarb

Feb 24th 2009, 16:05

Part 1:

The reality goes beyond all this. The government could have easily foreseen the bad ecnomic climate situation because all the world was speeking about it years before. We were and we are lucky up to a certain extent that Malta is not being affected as badly as other big nations, those of you who either have relatives or who go to other countries regularly know what I'm tangibly taking about.

In reality, we have a government which is being "reactive" rather than "proactive" I'm not saying that the EU is bad but let's call a spade a spade, thanks to the EU, the Government has his hands tied up, it's not easy to help industries in subsidies etc.. because this goes against much of the EU rules: just look at what happened in Italy when Berlusconi tried to save Alitalia (and this is Italy - a giant). The Government face an election and due to the power of incumbancy, they burnt a lot of money to earn votes! leaving less for contengencies like this one, which was already know beforehand! And now?

james Pisani

Feb 24th 2009, 15:57

Hello, hello - calling Gianninu Saliba on Cloud 9. This is Malta calling........come down to earth please.

Gianni Xuereb

Feb 24th 2009, 15:51

@Joseph Galea.
"This has nothing to do with partisan politics." I agree with that.

"Black is black and white is white." So let's change the title of this article to "the govt. forks out €6.5m to save 100 workers at Methode from losing their job."

With Tarzna we used to call it "subsidy" and I think we all agree it was wrong. Now with Methode we call it "financial aid/support". Well then state it clearly and stop feeding us lies.

How can I trust Tonio if he "said" he doesn't know anything about the layoffs at ST 24 hours before ? Tonio says that "today is a very important day for Malta bla bla bla". I'd say "today is a very sad day for Malta. The Government had to fork out millions of Euros so that a hundred employess at Methode don't lose their job". I don't see any positive news in that.

David Zarb

Feb 24th 2009, 15:44

For all the PN apologists and those who claimed victory,

Perhaps something to fill up their mouth before going out there declaring victory, I can tell you how Methode managed to get back on a 5 day week basis. Does any one of you know that most of Methode employees who were working on a 4 day week basis, were "urged" (a polite word for "forced") to report to work normally and work normally on their 5th day? Do you know this Dear Busy Bodies?

If you think this was fair, then, it would be a clear sign of lack of care. An employee who has his family hanging on his neck with comittments and all the rest of it, would have earned 1/5th less of his wage and many of them went seeking for a part-time on that day! This wasn't a news item but Malta is too small to keep such things in private! And after all, it was thanks to the GwU that there weren't any layoff's because there were planned over a hundred of layoff's. So look before you leap!

Well done GwU

joseph galea

Feb 24th 2009, 15:23

I never thought I would see the Maltese people turn into an 'I love me and only me' crowd.
I do not mind paying taxes to save the job of my brother or sister with a family to support.
This has nothing to do with partisan politics.
Black is black and white is white.
Minister Fenech already commands a shaky reputation, I am sure this time he has been more careful.
We can all write what we think if this turns out to be another coocoo.
Why do we always have to bring Joseph Muscat in the picture even when he has not yet commented?
Are we afraid that what he might say may make sense?
Once again, this is the only way to go Mr. Fenech, prosit.
We cannot even unite in times of strife, what a nation.
I was one to think that 'the mentality of a people is determined by the size of its shoreline' was an insult.
joe the plumber

M.Buhagiar

Feb 24th 2009, 14:50

@ Gianninu Saliba

Oh how I would adore being beside you as soon as the result of the 6th June MEP election comes out!!!!!!!!

Then we will see who from JOSEPH and the GONZ would have been the most iincompetent SALIBA!!!!

eric saliba

Feb 24th 2009, 14:34

@ gianninu saliba. your comment is, as usual, full of spite against the PL and its leadership. i will just ask you a simple question. is the transport ministry that called joseph muscat incompetent the same that paid out thousands of euros to the bus owners while these were out on strike?? how's that for competence? and pls don't tell me that it was in the agreement.
re smart city......don't count your chickens before they hatch coz you might be in for an unpleasant surprise!!

Gianninu Saliba

Feb 24th 2009, 13:12

Our friend James Pisani says: "So, like Thomas, I will only believe if come next April these things really happen." That's what happend to incompetent Joseph, he now believes that EU membership is a blessing, that the Euro was the right choice, that the privatization of the shipyards is thre right option, that SmartCity is a blessing. Yes, inexperienced, immature and now as the Transport Ministry stated, incompetent Joseph behaved like Thomas. The only difference is that Thomas believed and practiced his faith. Joseph still persists on the "Socialist perilous path".

Georger Xuereb

Feb 24th 2009, 13:11

Since when are we calling a merger with another company in Malta an investment ? The merger with another company happened last year, not today. The other company is non-automotive, yes. That explains the investment. They are using the sales and profits of this other company to cover up for the losses of Methode.

Now we have another word for subsidy: "Support from the government." Please explain Tonio.. how much did it cost us, the taxpayer ? Were the €6.5 million forked out by the government, aka. taxpayer ? Is this in line with EU laws ?

And please don't call me a Socialist... I'm too far right!

Yes indeed the world is in a recession, unfortunately. My only question is why Methode and not others ? and why not state clearly how much money were forked out ?

Lisa Galea

Feb 24th 2009, 13:03

Gianni Xuereb. Nobody obliges you to pay tax for these companies but as a ratio you are 1:750 employees plus. Simply send a letter to Tonio Fenech and tell him what you want to pay tax for. I think you are a fool unlike what you say, in though times not giving incentives to investment would leave this island barren of everything it is a domino effect. It starts from industries and moves to employees and then to people's spending power. In a depression as there is worldwide all are effected, Malta is no different. Your tax input is a measly fraction compared to that paid by 750+ therefore your opinion is not really relevant.

Manuel Mifsud

Feb 24th 2009, 12:35

PL puppets are very disappointed with this good news item. Of course, it partly spoils their policy of doom and gloom!

James Pisani

Feb 24th 2009, 11:52

@ G. Mangion
You are completely wrong. As an ex -Methode worker I would prefer nothing more than to see Methode workers on a normal week and enjoying a bright future. However, based on past rash statements by the Minister which proved to be hot air, I reserve the right to believe it when i see it. Also for your information I and many others like me prefer to hear the moaning of One TV if it is the truth, rather than the blaring trumpets of Net TV if it is a bunch of half-baked propaganda lies.

Mario Tabone-Vassallo

Feb 24th 2009, 11:43

PROSIT TASSEW. Fic-cirkostanzi dinjin tal-lum, dan SUCCESS KBIR. Jalla kollox jimxi l-quddiem b'wicc il-gid. GRAZZI

Gianni Xuereb

Feb 24th 2009, 11:42

LMAO
investment aid hahaha because subsidy sounds too nasty and goes against EU laws, so we found new words/synonyms. Why METHODE and not others ? How much will it cost the tax payer and for how long is it sustainable ? Are orders up or down ? Are we just kidding ourselves ?

I don't want to pay taxes to subsidise CERTAIN companies. I'm no fool, the automotive industry was the worst hit in the current recession and orders are still down. Tonio didn't do any miracle. He just shoved some of the tax payer's money to stop the company in the last minute from sacking workers.

I'm not negative. I'm realistic. America is in the current miserable state because it was not realistic for too many years. Is it a problem for you if I am realistic ?

N.Grima

Feb 24th 2009, 11:30

@ Gianni Xuereb:

It will be investing in new lines producing parts mainly for the non-automotive sector.

--There's your answer.

Karl Abela

Feb 24th 2009, 11:29

CONGRATULATIONS TO METHODE AND ITS EMPLOYEES!

You deserve it...make sure you make the best out of it and take care of the business.

Thank GOD and thanks to the government for the unexpected good news.

Lisa Galea

Feb 24th 2009, 11:27

@ Gianni Xuereb

Who told you other companies do not get subsidies. I would like to remind you that if you pay Tax so do Methode Electronics Malta Ltd. employees pay tax. Therefore yes, they are entitled to have subsidy aid to incentive their company. Haven't you read that all over the world governments are trying to incentive their industries.

Martin Vella Pace

Feb 24th 2009, 11:25

@ Gianni Xuereb

The minister does not need to answer your question. Read the article properly. " It will be investing in new lines producing parts mainly for the non-automotive sector". Car sales have got nothing to do with it !

Mark Axiak

Feb 24th 2009, 10:53

read well...this is not a subsidy. it is investment aid. meaning the company will get AID if it INVESTS and thus creates jobs. so it is not a subsidy just to keep the company going.

C.Sapiano

Feb 24th 2009, 10:52

@Gianni Xuereb

As if many people really bother about MEP Elections (they are not a general election). Please be a bit positive.

G.Mangion

Feb 24th 2009, 10:48

James Pisani , You Moan to Much ! seem's you are not so happy about the Methode
Worker's ! anyway is the 1 t.v New's to Include this ? or the usual Moaning ?
Welldone Finance Minister Tonio Fenech You're the Best.

Gianni Xuereb

Feb 24th 2009, 10:38

as far as I know car orders are still down. Can Tonio Fenech explain what kind of deal he has reached ? New production lines when orders are down to 33% of the original ?

Are we subsidizing this particular company from our own taxes ? Is this another damage control exercise for the June elections at the expense of the tax payer ? Are we repeating Mar '08 elections ? Why subsidise Methode and not other companies ?

James Pisani

Feb 24th 2009, 10:19

Methode workers should be wary and only believe such news if it is given by their Management and not by Minister Tonio Fenech or some other politician who has built a reputation for making rash statements which turn out to be nothing but political propaganda for the gullible. So, like Thomas, I will only believe if come next April these things really happen.

joseph galea

Feb 24th 2009, 10:17

Well done to all involved.
Plus points for Minister Fenech.
Let us hope this break in the clouds will bring more good weather.
Keep it up girls and boys
joe the plumber

C.Sapiano

Feb 24th 2009, 10:12

Very good. Hope the usual moaners wont have something to say.