The GRTU  complained today that local councils were abusing regulations by granting long-term permits to stall owners, creating unfair competition with shops.

It explained that  a legal notice issued in 2002 and subsequently amended, enables the councils to issue temporary permits specifically for religious feasts and public events. Specific provisions are even included whereby Local Councils are obliged to give priority in the allocation of stalls during feasts to the sale of Maltese nougat.

"It is abundantly clear that the scope of the legislator was to regulate the temporary stalls that characterise our local religious feasts, not to establish a platform that allows the bypassing of the Commerce Department and the Trade Services Directive altogether," the GRTU said.

"Nonetheless local councils are utilising this regulation in particular in order to grant long term permits to operators, without vetting tax compliance, which permits are also often extended practically all year round. These result in, for example, the countless vans we see mushrooming near our roundabouts in various localities, particular when nearing special occasions such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, selling flowers and other items, to the detriment of shop owners that would have been waiting for such occasions all year whilst dutifully paying their licenses, permits and taxes."

This, the GRTU said, was clearly not the intention of the legislator and therefore local councils should not be allowed to over reach and extend in this manner.  

It urged the government to intervene and stop this unfair competition.