The Foundation for Human Resources Development supports industry in its people management needs and is focused on the changing scenario of businesses and human resources, bringing to the forefront issues that are at the cutting edge of competition, said Louis Galea, Malta's representative on the European Court of Auditors. He was speaking during the inauguration of the foundation's new offices at Casa Leone, Floriana.
Dr Galea said he recalls with satisfaction the days when he was social policy minister responsible for the setting up of the Employment and Training Corporation and the Foundation for Human Resources Development in 1990.
From the outset, the vision was to set up a government agency that was to deliver employment and training services while having a foundation that worked to raise the profile of people management in Malta.
Foundation president John Muscat Drago acknowledged that the foundation has become the focal point for HR management issues, and through training and other activities, has become a port of call for consultancy, advice and support to many organisations, including the public sector.
Chief executive officer Joe Gerada said the foundation had to look to the future and the challenges of globalisation, and demographic change had to be taken seriously to ensure that Malta remained competitive and workers' standard of living improved. In this respect, he called on government, trade unions and employers to embark on a national effort to get all workers, particularly blue collar and young employees, certified.
In attendance were leaders of industry and HR professionals. The foundation and Koperattivi Malta also signed a cooperation agreement for closer ties between the two organisations.
The FHRD, which started off as a joint venture between government and the private sector, now delivers over 70 management and HR programmes, professional courses in conjunction with the University of Leicester, and is a leading conference and seminar organiser in the field of people management.
The foundation is also the organiser of the People Awards for standards of practice.
www.fhrd.org