Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1210395
13.02.2020 3 NEWS THE Planning Authority has published for public consultation a revision of the Supplementary Planning Policy Guid- ance on Major Accident Hazards and Hazardous Substances. Back in 2005, the Authority had ap- proved a document which set out a planning policy framework for imple- menting the land use planning objec- tives of the EU's Seveso II Directive. Follow the adoption of a third update to the Seveso Directive, the Authority has updated the land-use policy docu- ment to take into account the resultant changes of the new Directive. e Seveso-III Directive was adopt- ed to take into account, amongst oth- ers, the changes in the EU legislation on the classification of chemicals and increased rights for citizens to access information and justice. e Directive applies to more than 12,000 industrial plants in the Europe- an Union where dangerous substances are used or stored in large quantities, mainly in the chemical and petrochem- ical industry, as well as in fuel wholesale and storage sectors. e revised Supplementary Planning Policy Guidance on Major Accident Hazards and Hazardous Substances document is subdivided into two parts. Part 1 transposes the SEVESO III Di- rective Article 13 Land Use Planning requirements, while Part 2 sets out the planning policy guidance. e policy document provides land- use guidance in the eventuality that new sites are proposed for the development of industrial plants which produce or operate using dangerous chemicals. e document also concerns any modifications to existing hazardous sites or proposed developments in the vicinity of existing sites. Today, there are twelve plants/sites in Malta for which this policy document applies. e overarching purpose of this poli- cy document remains that of reducing the number of people at risk and to re- duce the likelihood and the extent of harm if an accident occurs. e public and all interested stake- holders are being invited to submit their comments on the revised Supple- mentary Planning Policy Guidance on Major Accident Hazards and Hazard- ous Substances. Representations are to be made in writing and sent through e-mail ad- dress: seveso@pa.org.mt. e proposed policy document to- gether with the public submissions received during the initial phase of consultation are available on the Au- thority's website www.pa.org.mt/con- sultation . Submissions are to reach the Authori- ty by 27 March 2020. Seveso III directive prompts revision to planning policy guidance for sites with hazardous material FROM PAGE 1 The percentage rise in the country's work- force over the past six years is also significant- ly bigger than that of previous years. From 2004 to 2011, for instance, the total workforce in Malta rose by just under 12,000, or 19,000 new workers. Of these, 58% were locals and 42% were expats. e figures indicate that, from 2010 to 2017, at an assumed average salary of €25,000 per year, the increased workforce contributed an addi- tional €1.6 billion to the economy. 93% more women in workforce since 2005 Between 2005 and 2018, women's participation in the workforce rose by 93%, reaching 80,000. Female participation in the workforce has been mostly on the increase since 2009, the fig- ures show. Measures implemented by the gov- ernment over the past seven years, namely the free childcare scheme and in-work benefits, undoubtedly paid a part in boosting the rate of working women. 30% of locals, EU nationals in high-ranking roles e figures show that the majority of employ- ees – both local and foreign – in Malta's labour market occupy sub-managerial roles. Around 55,600, or 30% of Maltese workers are employed in managerial or professional po- sitions. When it comes to EU nationals, about 10,300, or 30%, occupy managerial or profes- sional posts In the case of third-country nationals, just 13% have managerial or professional roles. Malta's workforce grew by 32% over six years, figure show A group of licensed boat oper- ators that operate non-sched- uled charters and pre-booked trips around Malta and Comino have joined the Mal- ta Chamber of SMEs for for- mal representation in a bid to address recent serious events that are threatening their sec- tor's livelihood. Transport Malta, the Min- ister for Transport and the Prime Minister have been in- formed accordingly. As per a concession grant- ed through the Comino Ferry Tender and later communi- cated via Port Notice 1/2020, Transport Malta planned to replace the service offered by numerous small operators that have been in this busi- ness for decades. e Mal- ta Chamber of SMEs will be defending the right of these operators not to be sidelined by a single player and conse- quently keep their place in the market. Being operators duly li- censed by Transport Malta itself, it is highly unjust that the same authority did not involve the already existing and operating players with the drafting of its strategy and instead forged ahead with its drastic, potentially unconsti- tutional plans that have a di- rect and clear impact on their business operation. e way the tender was issued also raises serious doubts on its legality in terms of public procurement rules. e move is also deemed to pose a breach under compe- tition law. e operators have sought redress in front of the Mal- tese Courts and the Public Contracts Review Board. On meeting the Chamber of SMEs, the operators ex- plained how they felt cheat- ed that indications given by Government led them to be- lieve that the request would be for a service that would complement theirs and not seek to push them out of the market. Most operators are fami- ly businesses that have been long operating and feel they are being pushed aside by an authority that has granted exclusive use of public land to accommodate one large player. Licensed boat operators join Malta Chamber of SMEes