As part of its efforts to mitigate the growing labour shortages and skills gap being experienced in the Maltese economy, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, in collaboration with Mcast Gateway to Industry organised an information session addressed by S.I.A. Imprese, a Sicilian company with a vast network of Sicilian and Italian skilled human resources looking for opportunities in Malta.

The aim of the three-way collaboration is to link members of the Chamber with a vast database of potential employees and fill in any skills gaps through tailor-made short courses delivered by Mcast. The session was held at the Malta Chamber’s Exchange Buildings.

Opening the session, Malta Chamber director general Kevin Borg elaborated on the Chamber’s efforts to seek effective solutions for members facing acute labour shortages as a result of the thriving performances being experienced across the economy.

Sicilians not as fortunate as the Maltese

He noted how numerous companies have gone to great lengths and costs in order to recruit workers from third countries, sometimes even outside of the European continent, but few have considered the potential of the Malta’s closest neighbouring region.

Marco Savarino, International Relationship Manager, S.I.A. Imprese explained that, at present, southern Italians and Sicilians are not as fortunate as the Maltese in terms of the career opportunities available to them, and many are open to move to Malta to work and live. The frequent connections between the regions, together with the similar cultures, lifestyles and languages make Malta a very attractive place for Italian and Sicilian workers of all skill-levels.

Fredrick Schembri, chairman of the Mcast Board of Governors and managing director of Aurobindo Pharma (Malta) explained how Mcast are actively seeking to enhance the quality of its education and training in order to offer better-equipped graduates. Mr Schembri reflected on positive experiences when recruiting skilled Sicilian workers in the area of pharmacology and recognised an opportunity for Mcast to contribute to the plethora of initiatives aimed at mitigating labour shortages in Malta by teaming up with the Malta Chamber and S.I.A. Imprese.

By collaborating with local companies that seek to recruit skilled Italian workers through S.I.A. Imprese, Mcast will design tailor-made short courses to bridge any education and qualification lacunae candidates may have, in order to fulfil the role in a local company effectively.

In the coming days, the Malta Chamber will be reaching out to its membership for more information on the number and type of skilled workers required and to gauge interest regarding participation in recruitment drives in Sicily.

For more information, contact nigel.mifsud@maltachamber.org.mt.