Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513566
4 NEWS 21.12.2023 BANK of Valletta is seeking to recruit an additional 50 customer-focused in- dividuals to join its branches and cus- tomer service centre. is is a dedicated effort to strength- en the service offering provided at these core touchpoints and reflects the bank's commitment to delivering an enhanced and efficient service across all its chan- nels, aligning with its overarching focus on customer satisfaction. BOV has made substantial invest- ments in digital solutions and tech- nologies to offer convenient banking services to its customers. Despite these advancements, the bank recognises the diversity of cus- tomer needs and the importance of human interaction, which it continues to provide through its various branch- es across Malta and Gozo, as well as its dedicated Customer Service Cen- tre. Ray Debattista, Chief People & Culture Officer at Bank of Valletta, shared insights on the bank's efforts in this regard, stating, "Over the past months, we have dedicated ourselves to elevating customer experience through a series of initiatives. From improving our ATM fleet, renovating our branches and introducing an on- line appointment booking system to act on customer feedback through our Voice of the Customer and celebrating Customer Experience Week across our branch network, our commitment is evident. We recognise that the log- ical next step is to reinforce our team at these touchpoints, ensuring a truly enhanced customer experience." BOV employs over 2,100 employees and is the largest employer in the pri- vate sector. Apart from very attractive salaries, the Bank offers employees a raft of employment benefits. These include staff home loans and personal loans at reduced interest rates, free credit cards, zero bank- ing charges on several other services, health insurance, family-friendly in- centives, annual wellness grants, addi- tional vacation leave, performance bo- nuses, study leave and grants, training and development opportunities, fast career paths, and staff fun activities. The latest addition to this wide suite of benefits is the Voluntary Occupa- tional Pension Scheme, where each employee's voluntary contribution to- wards their pension plan is matched by the Bank and hence doubled every month up to a certain amount. Ray Debattista emphasised, "At Bank of Valletta we think people-first. Our customers are the sole reason why we are in business, but our employees are the reason we have customers. We continue to invest heavily in our peo- ple, provide enriching career paths and development programmes, foster- ing a dynamic and rewarding work en- vironment. Work-life balance and our employees' wellness is a priority for us, and we celebrate our people in var- ious ways for example through quar- terly bank-wide awards and monthly top performers initiatives. Diversity is not just embraced, we believe that every individual brings their unique perspective to our vibrant team, cre- ating a workplace that truly celebrates innovation and inclusion." Bank of Valletta has over 400 em- ployees at its 33 Branches across Mal- ta and Gozo and Customer Service Centre. People interested in joining the BOV team are invited to apply online through https://vacancies.bov. com BOV embarks on recruitment drive VACANCY The Wrap Company Ltd has a vacancy for a factory labourer in wrap manufacturing. Applicants must have minimum of three years' experience, fluently speaking English and Turkish. Hourly rate from Eur5.77. Interested Applicants may send email to secretary@a-plusplus.eu FROM PAGE 1 In both cases the court held that where there are grounds to fear the effects on competition of an accu- mulation of State aid within the same group, the onus is on the Commission to exercise particular vigilance when examining the links between the companies belonging to that group. The complaint deals with France's decision In April 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, to notify the European Commission of an aid measure it would be granting to Air France, which included a State loan guarantee covering 90% of a €4 billion loan granted to the airline by a con- sortium of banks and a shareholder loan of up to €3 billion. According to the Commission, Air France was the sole beneficiary of that aid, to the exclusion of all the other companies in the Air France- KLM group. Just under a year later, in March 2021, France also notified the Com- mission of individual aid in the form of a recapitalisation of Air France and its holding company Air France-KLM amounting to some €4 billion in total. According to the Commission, Air France and Air France-KLM were the sole beneficiaries of that aid, to the exclusion of, in particular, KLM, an- other airline forming part of the Air France-KLM group. In both cases, the Commission decid- ed not to raise objections, stating that those measures constituted aid that was compatible with the internal market. But the Commission's decision now stands in stark contrast with the its refusal to allow the Maltese govern- ment to save Air Malta by pumping €300 million into the national air- line, which is now set to shut down in 2024. Ryanair and Malta Air contested the Commission's decisions to allow Air France to receive State aid, arguing that the measures were contrary to EU law and that the Commission had incorrectly defined the beneficiaries of the aid by deciding that neither the Air France-KLM holding nor KLM were beneficiaries of that aid. The General Court found in favour of the plaintiff airlines and annulled the Commission's decisions, saying the body had erred in excluding the French airlines from its definition of State Aid beneficiaries. After examining the capital, organ- ic, functional and economic links between the companies in the Air France-KLM group, together with the contractual framework on the basis of which the measures at issue were granted, as well as the type of aid measure granted and the context in which they were granted, the court concluded that the defendant airlines were capable of benefiting, at least in- directly, from the advantage granted by the State aid at issue. Air France received State loan guarantee covering 90% of a €4 billion loan