Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1221489
5 The Chamber complained that the method with which this decision has been tak- en left much to be desired, claiming "all competent and relevant institutions have all been bypassed. The govern- ment has in fact ridden rough- shod on the MCESD, and the Employment Relations Board, against the express opinions of all constituted bodies, who were in complete unison on the subject." The Chamber insisted that quarantine leave needs to be paid by the government, "oth- erwise this will threaten the very survival of businesses." "Government's proposals to date are considered not to reassure the local economy in terms of any potential plans for a lockdown in the country to protect the health and wel- fare of our population. "Unless there is complete and inclusive dialogue and planning in the appropriate fora and according to agreed procedures, the Chamber fears that the consequences of a lockdown, as much as this may be sensical from a nation- al health viewpoint, will have catastrophic economic effects on businesses and jobs." maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 MARCH 2020 NEWS DAVID HUDSON OPPOSITION Leader Adrian Delia has called for an immediate lockdown in light of the corona- virus epidemic. In a press conference with so- cial partners on Saturday, Delia said that he agreed with various unions, associations and medical professionals calling for a lock- down "It's now needed more than ev- er for our country to be in lock- down before it's too late," he said, adding that he was in talks with various unions and social part- ners to come up with proposals that would be in the national in- terest. Delia had last week requested Parliament to suspend the agen- da and discuss the coronavirus but Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia denied his request. At a press conference on Sat- urday, Prime Minister Robert Abela once again insisted that a lockdown would be "too drastic" a reaction. He described a poten- tial lockdown as akin to a "house arrest" and that such a measure would hurt families and vulnera- ble individuals who could not be expected to be on their own. At the PN headquarters, Delia said that he was in disagreement with the government's stance and that he agreed with doctors in their appeal for the airport and cruise ports to close. "We should provide for a very limited win- dow for Maltese residents to re- turn to their country but then we should close our borders," Delia said. The Superintendent for Public Health, Charmaine Gauci, an- nounced on Saturday morning that Malta had registered six new cases of Covid-19 since the night before. These were not cases of local transmission, she said, but all imported from abroad. Delia said that Malta's ageing population, arguably the most vulnerable to succumbing to the virus, should be taken into special consideration by the gov- ernment when announcing new measures. "Due to our dense population, we suggested the limitation to physical contact. The govern- ment welcomed some of our sug- gestions, including the closure of schools and that public service workers work remotely. "On the suggestion of the Op- position, the government also in- sisted that public transport buses not accept people standing on vehicles to limit crowding. We also suggested that the govern- ment uses the army to bring sup- plies to the elderly," Delia said. He added that now is the time to keep in contact with business- es for the sake of new solutions at the time of such a crisis. Abela announced on Saturday a number of economic initiatives, including the postponement of provisional tax, VAT and social security contributions for both self-employed and employers for the months of March and April to improve the liquidity of com- panies. Delia: 'Lockdown now before it's too late' Adrian Delia (centre) with David Agius and Robert Arrigo CAREER OPPORTUNITIES A full job description of these posts is available on the MDB's website: www. mdb.org.mt. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the MDB on careers@mdb.org.mt or on +356 2226 1700. are to be submitted by Monday 6 April 2020 addressed to: VLT 1041 or via email on careers@mdb.org.mt BRIDGING THE INVESTMENT GAP SUPPORTING SMEs, INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE & SOCIAL INVESTMENT • (JobsPlus permit 648/2019) • (JobsPlus permit 150/2020) mdb.org.mt The Malta Development Bank (MDB) is a promotional bank set up by the Government of Malta in 2017 in terms of the Malta Development Bank Act, 2017 (CAP.574). The aim of the MDB is to complement commercial banks so as to bridge development in Malta, with special focus on SMEs, infrastructure, innovation, digitalisation, education, and other socially-oriented projects. candidates with banking experience who are citizens of European Union Member States for the following vacancies: European Aairs Ocer Senior Compliance Ocer