The four employer organisations represented at Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) have jointly nominated Stefano Mallia and Doris Sammut Bonnici as their representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Stefano Mallia - President of the Employers Group within the EESC

Earlier this year, Mr Mallia was elected to the prestigious position of President of the Employers Group (Group 1) of EESC. Ms Sammut Bonnici currently occupies the post of President of the Malta Employers Association.

The move towards a joint and unanimous nomination is unprecedented since Malta joined the European Union and the EESC, the Malta Chamber of Commerce noted in a statement.

“It is also a rare occurrence on the European level. Malta’s employer bodies felt duty bound to join forces and unite particularly at this most challenging juncture facing Malta, Europe and the world.”

The four employer organisations on the MCESD are made up of: The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta Employers’ Association, the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.

Doris Sammut Bonnici - President of the Malta Employers' Association

The MCESD brings together Government representatives, the Presidents of the four main employer bodies and the heads of Malta’s largest workers’ unions, such as the General Workers’ Union and UHM Voice of the Workers.

When Government announced its latest financial aid measures, aimed at supplying added wage subsidies to companies in industries deemed worst impacted, it credited discussions within the MCESD as having taken place.

On an EU-wide level, the EESC brings together employers, workers’ unions and business interest groups to discuss economic measures likely to impact the EU as a whole. It provides opinions on proposed legislation coming from the European Commission and continues to make recommendations on how the EU can assist businesses across the bloc in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.