Director General of the Malta Employers Association has revealed a feeling of “panic” amongst its members, after Government announced restrictions on the elderly and those at a higher risk of suffering from the COVID-19 virus.

On Thursday afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne announced the latest measures to help combat the spread of the virus as the number of local transmissions begins to rise.

Among the measures were a ban of outdoor meetings of over five people, and restrictions of movements for people who are 65 and over, and who are:

Insulin dependent diabetics, taking biologicals, patients with cancer who received chemotherapy in the last six months, patients who are immunosuppressed, patients undergoing dialysis, pregnant women, patients with respiratory problems who have been hospitalised in the last year, patients with cardiac problems with hospitalisation in the last six month and insulin dependent diabetics.

As it is understood, there is no penalty for those who breach the order, however they are strongly encouraged to follow the directive due to increased exposure.

Those in the list of pre-existing conditions have been told to work from home, where possible, otherwise Government would be providing the €320 funding for every two weeks quarantined.

In addition, those living with people aged over 65 or with somebody in the aforementioned list of conditions, must also quarantine themselves at home or find an alternative residence.

As the news sunk in, many employers realised what a headache it will be to identify the people who are to be excused from turning up at work – especially factories where much of the work cannot be done remotely.

“We have sent a number of questions and we are expecting answers,” commented Mr Farrugia in response to the latest measures.

“The worst thing is the uncertainty of it,” he stressed.

Mr Farrugia explained that one of the biggest questions is how to access the funds being made available for workers who fall under the latest measures and must remain quarantined at home.

The Director General had a message for the government: “Before implementing any measures, they must be evaluated to see what their impact on the labour market is going to be in the normal business operations, and anticipate questions expected to be raised.”

One of the biggest headaches, many employers have intimated, is that those living with a vulnerable/elderly person are also impacted, drastically widening the net. In yesterday’s press conference, Minister Fearne said the latest measures will likely impact around 118,000 people.

The Malta Chamber of Commercre, Enterprise and Industry is currently looking into issues of availability of staff, following the latest set of measures announced yesterday by Malta’s Health Authorities.

It reported receiving numerous messages on the announcement, and is looking into the matter, as it is understood that it will result in issues of availability of staff.

“We are working on this and are aware that announcements in this respect are expected later on today” said the President of The Malta Chamber in a statement on the subject, on social media today.