Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1478174
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 SEPTEMBER 2022 4 NEWS Situations vacant WANTED Housekeeper We are looking for a Housekeeper. Persons must have previous experience, be responsible, enthusiastic and willing to carry out their role in a professional and polite manner. Send email to: sebastien.biax@gmail.com PAUL COCKS GO customers took to social media in confusion last week following reports that the company would no longer offer free streaming of TV content on its GO TV app or free music streaming through apps. A spokesperson for the company explained to MaltaToday that GO was allowing mobile custom- ers eligible to the Music WildCard and Free Stream- ing of GO TV offers to enjoy the streaming of TV Content via the GO TV App, as well as enjoy music via Apps such as Spotify without consuming their data allowance. This free streaming was only allowed if the cus- tomers had an active data bundle. Once the data bundle was depleted the streaming of this content would stop. "We wanted our customers to enjoy the content they love whenever they want, wherever they are, whilst preserving their data allowance provided with their mobile subscription because we believe in providing added value to our customers, whenever we can, the spokesperson said. "Of course, any oth- er applications requiring data usage, would be con- sumed from their data allowance." These offers were similar to those provided by oth- er operators across the EU in line with the EU rules applicable at the time. In September of 2021, the European Court of Jus- tice, ruled that Vodafone Germany and Telekom Deutschland zero-rated practices go against the general obligation of equal treatment of traffic as required by the EU open internet access regulation. As a result all zero-rated offers across the EU were prohibited. Thus, following communication received from the MCA, GO established a plan to phase out the zero-rated offers by the end of Sep- tember. "This means that as from 1st October, mobile cus- tomers will now have to utilise data from their sub- scription allowance to enjoy the streaming GO TV App content or music, whereas before, this data was not being charged," the spokesperson said. "Cus- tomers with unlimited data bundles are unaffected." The company confirmed that free streaming will no longer be available in the case of music stream- ing though apps like Spotify, and TV content on the company's GO TV App. As from 1 October 2022 customers will start con- suming data from their monthly data allowances for the streaming of GO TV and music apps. Once this data allowance is exceeded customers will need to purchase additional data bundles or else pay per use rates will apply. Our purpose at GO remains to drive a digital Mal- ta where no one is left behind. Our intention with this service was only to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy the content they love, irre- spective of what data bundle they are subscribed to, particularly students and lower income individuals," the spokesperson said. "However, we are also obliged to respect regula- tions and amend our commercial offers in line with such regulations." ECJ ruling forces GO to end free streaming of TV content and music Employers want COLA capped at €6 for next five years KARL AZZOPARDI EMPLOYERS wants COLA to be capped at €6 for the next five years amid warnings that the projected increase next year of €10 will have a negative impact on companies. Rising inflation since the start of the year is pointing a cost of living adjustment of around €10 per week next year. Malta Employers Association director general Joseph Farrugia said employers want to have an agreement for a minimum and maximum COLA with all social partners to be in place by 2024. He also said COLA should be set at a minimum of €2.50. 55% of companies expecting negative impact A survey carried out by MEA showed that 55% of companies said they are expecting a nega- tive impact due to the projected COLA increase next year. 38% said the €10 COLA increase would pose a medium burden. The survey also found that 50% of businesses said they will par- tially pass the increased costs of operation to their customers, with 22% saying they will pass on the full increase to their cli- ents. 88% of respondents said that the surge in inflation has affect- ed costs of other components besides labour, such as raw ma- terials and services. The survey also showed that 45% of participants said they have increased their prices in to react to inflationary pressures, with 55% saying they have ab- sorbed the cost increases and kept prices stable. The majority (72%) also said their company may experience reduced profitability in the coming 12 months and 16% said they may face a loss-making sit- uation. 12% expected their fi- nancial performance to remain relatively stable. Farrugia said labour intensive companies are going to be the worst hit by the cost of living increase in wages. "We cannot assume that everyone is going to be impacted the same," he said. MEA director general Joseph Farrugia