On the same day The Times suggested it might not be a bad idea to look also on the bright side in a situation dominated by bad economic and industrial news, the government announced a deal with a recession-hit firm that points to the way it intends tackling difficulties in industry. The deal, involving help in the retraining of workers and the provision of factory space, received immediate approval by industry and by trade unions and organisations looking after industry's interests. Even more encouraging is the news that the government is already working on similar deals with at least two other firms hit by the downturn in orders.

The firm that has struck a deal with the government is one of a number operating on a shorter working week. As orders for industrial goods continue to drop, more firms are expected to be hit, although experts in London are predicting that the situation might improve in the second half of the year. As neither firms nor governments can rely on predictions, action would still need to be taken to see how firms hit by the downturn could be helped to weather the storm. This is precisely what the government means to do through a task force for industry set up recently. In its plans to rescue recession-hit firms, Malta has an advantage over some other countries in that the island is very small and the task force could, therefore, zero in on particular firms' needs, as the government has done in the case of Methode, the company involved in the recently-announced deal.

Methode, which employs 750 workers, had also planned to lay off some 100 workers. But it has now reversed this plan and intends investing €6.5 million in new production lines. As from April 1, one group of workers now working on a four-day week will be returning to a normal working week and another group, who were made to work three and a half days a week, would be working four and a half days a week.

Methode Electronics Group European vice-president Joseph Elias Kuory said, in thanking the government and "its team of professionals for understanding the dynamics of the market and offering support", that their case showed that "a crisis could also mean opportunities... Sitting back and waiting for the global economy to help is not the right way to move ahead". Well said indeed.

Two other companies known to be discussing deals with the government are Stainless Steel Products Ltd and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

A positive factor is the close working relationship that the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has established with the government over the work that needs to be done to help industry. Helga Ellul, the chamber's president, has said in a newspaper interview that they had asked the government not to wait until the issues get too big. "I think that is exactly what it is doing." The Employment and Training Corporation was working out a support scheme for the retraining of workers, "something we have pushed for since it helps allaying fears at employee level".

Insofar as industry is concerned, therefore, it looks as if the government is on the right track. It is hardly possible to escape the impact of the recession but with the right sort of help, given to the right people at the right time, it could at least be somewhat eased.