Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1259447
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JUNE 2020 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA MALTA has failed to influ- ence European transport rules, which local industrialists fear will raise their costs of cabo- tage and logistics by at least 10%. MEPs in the European Par- liament's transport committee last Monday endorsed a deal reached with EU ministers on a major reform of the road trans- port sector. The rules will set mandatory conditions for driv- ers' rest times and their place of rest. But Maltese companies say the new rules will punish island economies like Malta the most. Despite a late bid this year by transport minister Ian Borg to take up the matter in the Eu- ropean Council, MaltaToday is informed that no agreement was reached with EU ministers taking none of Malta's pleas for regard of its industry on board. Instead, in a last-ditch at- tempt at forcing concessions on the deal, in a rare move of na- tional unity, Malta's six MEPs tabled a host of amendments to the proposed rules during the last transport committee meet- ing: none of the amendments passed. While the vote was taken by a show of hands, the key outcome was a confirmation of an earlier decision in January, supporting all the rapporteurs' recommen- dations without amendments. Despite the national effort, the Maltese amendments lacked any support from key MEPs with influence inside the transport committee to support any of the last-minute changes. In February, the former PN candidate for Europe Peter Agius had already sounded the alarm on EU negotiations ad- vancing fast on the new rules, to the detriment of Maltese in- dustry. Agius had warned that Malta had to intervene much earlier in EU negotiations across the board. "Other member states would have already established their main objectives before the European Commission has presented new legislation, and move forthwith to modi- fy proposals in the Council of Ministers and in the European Parliament. In this case we are moving three years late when most ministers in Council and MEPs in the European Parlia- ment have already made up their minds," Agius had said. Transport minister Ian Borg had then said Malta would back its trucking companies in fighting EU rules that would force them to provide a paid rest period of around 45 hours every three to four consecutive weeks, at "the employer's es- tablishment or to the drivers' place of residence". The rules will also force com- panies to have the trucks return to the company's headquarters every eight weeks, in a move designed to prevent haulage companies from trying to reg- ister in other EU countries to take advantage of lower taxes. Maltese companies believe the rules will cost them be- tween €500,000 and €1 mil- lion because of the need to buy more trucks and employ more people. But the original European Commission proposal has been on the table since May 2017, and was discussed by MEPs five times in the European Parliament. Malta has already been accused of voicing its objections late on the matter, failing to coordinate better in the earlier stages of such laws by meeting stakeholders and MEPs. Better working conditions for drivers The new rules will help ensure better rest conditions for driv- ers and allow them to spend more time at home, by forcing companies to return drivers in international freight transport every three or four weeks. The mandatory rest period at the end of the week, known as regular weekly rest, cannot be taken in the truck cab. If this rest period is taken away from home, the company must pay for accommodation costs. The rules will also ensure fair- er competition and fight illegal practices with vehicle tacho- graphs to register border-cross- ings in the fight against fraud, as well as also limiting cabotage to three operations within sev- en days. A provisional agreement was already reached between the Council presidency and the European Parliament in De- cember 2019. The Transport Committee first backed the deal with the EU Ministers on 21 January. The Council adopt- ed the reform on 7 April. Malta loses out on EU trucking rules Rare bid by all six MEPs to present amendments to EU cabotage rules fails after Council does not move on Malta's protestations Transport minister Ian Borg: EU ministers failed to take on board Malta's protestations on the cabotage rules KARL AZZOPARDI A challenger for the deputy presidency of the Malta Union of Teachers says the un- ion needs to be more proactive in its rep- resentation of educators. Primary and secondary school ICT teacher Charlene Zammit Moore, who teaches at a Church school, is running for the post of MUT vice-president in what is internally viewed as a challenge to the cur- rent establishment. Zammit Moore said her bid was inspired by a feeling among educators that deci- sions taken by the union seem to be car- ried out behind closed doors. "Educators hate the fact that they learn about deci- sions through the media or a ministerial press conference, without having prior knowledge on what will happen to their profession, before it becomes official." Zammit Moore plans to empower mem- bers by keeping them engaged with the union. "When you discuss issues with the members, the issues emerge, and can be addressed appropriately, that is how the union can be proactive. We have to stop putting a band aid and address issues im- mediately." Zammit Moore also claims she has been denied access to the union's financial statements and members list. "The MUT should start off by changing its attitude towards us educators, by becoming more transparent and straightforward with its members." She wants to encourage more students into the teaching profession, and to have the MUT active in making the transi- tion towards teaching an easier one. "We should be negotiating agreements with the University of Malta and other bodies, to make it easier for people from different segments of society pursue the teaching profession." She also wants the union to address a brain drain in teaching of workers attract- ed by better salaries elsewhere. "How can we expect people to become Maths and Chemistry teachers, when other industries have far better salaries and better condi- tions of work?" Even job mobility is suffering inside the teaching trade, Zammit Moore said, with educators taking a longer time to progress through salary scales. "We have to revisit the bridging and mobility agreements, and start them off from scratch." She warned that teaching risks being run to the ground without the necessary re- spect towards educators. "Why would you become an educator or stay in the profes- sion if you know you will be met with dis- respect?" "I want to see things change. I tried giv- ing my feedback and input, but things re- mained the same. We have to truly bring to the light the issues faced by those tasked with teaching the generation of tomor- row," she said. Teacher's union bid pledges shake-up Charlene Zammit Moore: says MUT is not engaging well enough with member teachers Candidate's vice- presidency bid is challenge to MUT establishment