Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1079163
BUSINESS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 FEBRUARY 2019 12 LIDL Malta has become the first Maltese company to ever be awarded a Top Employer Certification. In fact, Lidl Malta has been awarded "Top Em- ployer 2019" as a result of its exceptional working condi- tions. This sought-after rec- ognition has been awarded to Lidl Malta by the Top Employ- ers Institute for providing the very best working environment for employees through their progressive "people-first" Hu- man Resources (HR) practices. This independent institute is a global authority recognizing excellence in people practices with a global Certification Pro- gramme that has certified and recognized more than 1.500 Top Employers in more than 118 countries so far. "Being the first company to be certified as a Top Employ- er in Malta is an outstanding achievement that highlights how serious we, as a Compa- ny, take our human resources management policies", says Mark Farrugia, Regional Di- rector of Lidl Malta. "The Top Employer 2019 certification further proves how much we believe in our team members and that they are the key to our success," he said. "This is why we give them room to grow, we create indi- vidualized training and devel- opment plans and encourage constant and regular commu- nication between all levels of staff. Throughout the year we organize a number of staff events and initiatives to help create and maintain the best workplace environment pos- sible. This important certifica- tion is proof that Lidl Malta is committed, as a Top Employer, to both our current staff mem- bers and towards our future employees. We are extremely proud to be certified Top Em- ployer 2019 and to form part of the Lidl Group which, in turn, has been certified Top Employ- er Europe." The certification process in- volved is rigorous and tough. Lidl Malta took part in a ques- tionnaire of over 100 questions covering 600 "People Develop- ment" practices across 10 dif- ferent HR topics. These an- swers were then analysed by the Top Employers Institute and subsequently audited by an external company. Following this process, a final evaluation is carried out and only then is a certification issued by the Top Employers Institute to those companies that have achieved the required standards. Top Employers are organizations of the highest calibre that have endeavoured to create, imple- ment and develop their people strategies. These companies provide an outstanding expe- rience through strategic and thoughtful workplace pro- grammes which in turn create an environment that empowers and develops employees. Lidl Malta, with over 340 em- ployees and eight stores in Mal- ta and Gozo, has already started off the year with new innovative initiatives especially dedicated to its team. Interested talent are invited to submit their C.V. via the online site jobs.lidl.com.mt. Lidl Malta is the first Maltese company to achieve top employer certification MALTA Freeport Terminals has signed a new collective agreement with the General Workers' Union covering 2018-2022 that provides its en- gineering department's employees with better conditions while at the same time improving ef- ficiency. The engineering section, represented by the GWU, plays a vital role in operations since its members maintain and repair all the equipment used at the Freeport, which operates round the clock. Malta Freeport Terminals CEO Alex Montebello said that efficiency was pivotal to the Freeport's success since it operated in a highly competitive environment. The Freeport recently invested €31 million in new equipment and infrastructural works that includes 15 Kone Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) together with 67 new tractors and trailers. As well as being faster and more environmen- tally-friendly than conventional RTGs, the new cranes are fitted with safety alarms that are con- siderably quieter which will also be installed on older models for the benefit of the neighbourhood. GWU general secretary Josef Bugeja and section secretary Sandro Vella attended the signing cer- emony on behalf of the union. The Freeport handles 20 weekly mainline servic- es, providing network links to 130 ports around the world, and handled over 3.31 million TEU containers and received more than 2,200 vessels over the past 12 months. New Freeport collective agreement will lead to improved efficiency Lidl Malta took part in a questionnaire of over 100 questions covering 600 "People Development" practices across 10 different HR topics The Freeport recently invested €31 million in new equipment and infrastructural works