Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1270964
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2020 9 NEWS COURT NOTICE The Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals informs that the Civil Court, First Hall ordered the following sales by auction: Date Time Judicial Sale No Place Items 05 th August, 2020 10:00am 07/20JGL Debono Used Cars Limited (C42589) vs Attard Robert (ID586783M) 55, J&J Boatyard, Triq l-Għadmija, Imqabba Vehicle of the make Lexus with the registration number BBZ 257 12 th August, 2020 10:00am 05/20EM Cricchiola Josephine (ID 373164M) vs Farrugia John (ID125373M) Number 4, Triq San Tumas, Fgura Vehicle of the make Proton Gem 2 with the registration number DBQ 035. Further details can be obtained from the website: https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/JudicialSales The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card Gaetana Aquilina For the Registrar Civil Courts and Tribunals to long-distance destinations," Muscat said. Malta International Airport has now launched a dedicated Airport Care Team (ACT) to provide extra assistance and en- sure passengers remain at safe distances as it reopens to com- mercial flights. "It is our responsibility to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to protect guests and air- port employees. But I would al- so like to appeal to prospective passengers to travel responsibly by following health and safety recommendations as well as the instructions of front-liners once they are at the airport," Malta International Airport CEO Alan Borg said. An agglomeration detection technology at MIA will ensure that people are social distanc- ing by sending real-time alerts to the team. Travellers will also be asked to scan their passports and boarding passes at check-in to minimise interaction of the airport's front-line staff. Thermal screening cameras will also be used to detect pas- sengers who have a high tem- perature. MIA's ACT members, which total 16 employees at the air- port, serve as health and safe- ty promoters in the terminal building to boost the confidence of travellers, airport employees and the wider public. The team, which can be iden- tified by their blue-coloured high-visibility vests, have been trained to empathise with trav- ellers who may be anxious due to the unusual situation, answer questions and trigger the neces- sary processes in case a guest or employee that shows symptoms of COVID-19 is identified. lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt MASSIMO COSTA ONE of Malta's teacher un- ions has said it was "unac- ceptable" that the proposed Equality Bill could deny Church school teachers the right to express their reli- gious views during lessons. The Union of Professional Educators claims the law, which makes it illegal to de- ny a service or recruitment on the basis of religious be- lief, would disallow Church school teachers from pro- moting Catholic values dur- ing all lessons other than religious studies. The Equality Bill, which is currently in committee stage in Parliament, is aimed at stamping out discrimi- nation of all kinds. It deals with issues such as denial of services and also recruit- ment, making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, age, religious belief, state of health and other "protected characteristics". But the Bill has raised con- troversy over provisions that prohibit faith schools from refusing to recruit teachers who do not follow the Catholic faith – even when teaching subjects not concerned with the faith – with the only exception be- ing the hiring of teachers of religion. The schools want the ex- ception to go further, to ensure that all recruitment reflects the Catholic ethos of the respective schools. In comments to Malta- Today, UPE executive head Graham Sansone refut- ed the claim that Church schools' main source of grievance was the fact that they would not be able to refuse employ- ment to someone because of their faith. "Church schools have never had any is- sues with employ- ing non-believers. In fact, there are many Church schools that em- ploy Muslim, Hindu and even atheist educators to teach various subjects. Obvi- ously, religion as a subject needs to be taught by a Catholic believ- er," Sansone said. "The Church never had any issues with employing di- vorced, separated or even LGBTIQ+ educators. The UPE sees that Church schools have a positive track record in this regard." The problem, Sansone said, was that the law would prevent teachers from mak- ing religious observations while teaching classes oth- er than the religion lesson. "Educators will not be al- lowed to express their reli- gious views during lessons, apart from the sole excep- tion of religious studies as a subject. This is unaccept- able… especially when we are talking about Church school employees, who should be allowed to follow the school ethos and pass on God's teachings in the day-to-day life of their stu- dents," he said. Sansone also said the law would restrict educators from their right to con- scientious objection. "The Equality Bill should allow church schools to practice their own ethos as well as give all educators the right to conscientious objection." MaltaToday also asked the Malta Union of Teachers for its views on the issue, but a union spokesperson referred this newspaper to consultation taking place with members. No official posi- tion has yet been communicated. The MUT however ap- peared reluc- tant to release a comment, with attempts to reach MUT president Mar- co Bonnici on Friday for more detailed insight having been unsuccessful. "The MUT has been follow- ing the discussion regarding the equality bill. It is vague in a number of aspects, giv- ing rise to interpretations which may impact the con- ditions of work of educa- tors," MUT said. The MUT said it will be meeting the respective min- istries in the coming days to provide its feedback. The Bill might yet be tweaked in light of the fears express by Church schools. Equality Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and Oppo- sition MPs Claudette Butti- gieg and Therese Comodini Cachia have been trying to find a compromise on the wording used, government sources said. Some of the changes being considered target the recruitment of teachers in Church schools, a clearer exception to pro- tect the display of religious symbols, and the possibil- ity of including a clause on conscientious objection. 'Unacceptable' to prevent Church school teachers to express religious views The Equality Bill would prohibit Church schools from refusing meritorious employment to someone of a different religious faith when it is not a genuine requirement for the subject they teach. But the UPE union says teachers should be allowed to carry forward the Catholic ethos even throughout the discharge of their duties UPE teachers union wants changes to Equality Bill, MUT yet to pronounce itself officially