Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1517916
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MARCH 2024 NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT OF A CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS (PROMOTING DIVERSITY) UNDER ASYLUM, MIGRATION & INTEGRATION FUND 2021-2027 The Ministry responsible for European Funds would like to announce that it is launching a call for project proposals in the following area: Specific Objective 2: Strengthening and developing legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, promoting and contributing to the effective integration and social inclusion of third country nationals. The call will close on 27 th June 2024 at noon. The online application form for the submission of project proposals and supporting documentation are available on https://fondi.eu/what-funding-is-available/. Prospective Applicants are encouraged to refer to AMIF Programme and the Eligibility Guidance Notes in order to check whether their proposals are eligible for funding through this call for project proposals. Further information on this call and on the Asylum, Migration & Integration Fund may be obtained from https://fondi.eu/. Any query should be sent by email on fondi.eu@gov.mt. A dedicated information session is being organised on Tuesday, 30 th April, 2024 from 09:00 till 11:00, at The Oaks Business Centre, Farsons Street, Ħamrun. Registration for the information session can be done by scanning the below QR code. HALF of foreign workers leave within a year of arriving in Mal- ta, making it not worthwhile for employers to invest in their training, according to audit firm KPMG. The short duration of foreign workers in Malta was described as "a notable issue" that is dis- rupting the employment dy- namics, the audit firm said in its economic outlook released this month. "This dynamic, risks impeding employer investment in their training, exacerbating labour shortages and compromising workforce quality," KPMG said. A quarter of foreign workers arrive for temporary employ- ment and half leave within a year, creating a constant turno- ver that creates instability. One of the major reasons for this turno- ver is high rental pric- es, according to Abigail Agius Mamo, CEO at the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises. "A worker coming from out- side the EU is mostly concerned with the amount of money left in hand to be able to send back home after rent is paid, so if the amount is not worthwhile they simply up and leave," she said. Agius Mamo says low-skilled third country nationals are paid wages commensurate with their skills, which can never match the rental prices being requested. She adds that a foreign worker who obtains an employment visa in Malta is actually obtaining a European work visa. "Mobility is possible and there is nothing holding back some- one from seeking employment opportunities in other member states if they secure a job," Agius Mamo says. She notes that rental accom- modation prices abroad tend to vary depending on where the building is located. "Outside the city centre, prices tend to drop but in Malta, the variations are not that big thus foreign workers end up paying very high rents." This invariably impacts Mal- tese residents who live in rented accommodation and who have no alternative to turn to, she adds. Agius Mamo says the introduc- tion of the skills card could help mitigate the problem. "Its aim is to attract better quality TCN's, which means they will also be paid better but more important- ly, the plan is to extend work vi- sas from one year to two or even three years if the workers im- prove their skills through training," she says. The govern- ment launched the skills card programme in January this year for TCN's working in hos- pitality as part of a wider drive to curb on unnecessary employment of foreign workers. "We are gradually moving to- wards a system that tries to re- tain foreign labour because the rapid turnover is not helpful," Agius Mamo says. "Contrary to popular belief it is expensive and cumbersome for employers to bring over and train foreign workers, which is why retaining them in sectors and jobs where they are needed is important." Statistics obtained from the La- bour Force Survey (LFS) shows that the employed work force totalled 301,441 in the third quarter of 2023. This represents an increase of 5.9% from the preceding year. The unemploy- ment rate dropped to 2.5% from 2.9% in the preceding period. The LFS reported that month- ly basic salaries ranged from €3,008 for managerial roles to €1,193 for those in elementary occupations for the period Ju- ly-September 2023. Malta's workforce has expand- ed rapidly since 2014, fuelled by economic growth and labour market policies that encouraged people to work. A substantial part of the expanded workforce was foreign labour. There are almost 100,000 foreigners living and working in Malta. "The increasing presence of foreign workers in Malta, while essential for addressing local workforce gaps and driving eco- nomic growth, poses challeng- es," the KPMG outlook said. High rents major reason why half of foreign workers leave after a year KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Half of foreign workers leave after a year, a turnover that Abigail Agius Mamo (inset) blames on unaffordable high rental prices for accomodation