L-uniformijiet u l-izpiza tal-edukazzjoni

Regghet bdiet l-skola u bhal kull sena dejjem ikun hemm xi kwistjoni mal-bidu tas-sena skolastika. Din is-sena miss lill-uniformijiet. L-uniformijiet mhux l-ewwel darba li nqalghet. Xi hames snin ilu din il-kwistjoni kienet inqalghet ukoll. Il-Gvern kien qabbad lill-Ufficcju tal-Konsumaturi u l-Kompetizzjoni sabiex jinvestiga. Sal-lum ghadna ninvestigaw u decizjonijiet ghadhom ma ttihdux.

Din id-darba l-kwistjoni ma kinitx dwar il-prezz ta’ dawn l-uniformijiet, izda minhabba li dawn l-uniformijiet ma waslux fil-hin. Il-genituri kienu rrabjati ghaliex kellhom anki jahlu l-Hadd filghodu sabiex jakkwistaw l-uniformijiet ghal uliedhom. Izda wara dan kollu kien hemm affarijiet ohra li kienu ghaddejjin. Affarijiet li huma aktar importanti. L-Ufficcju tal-Kompetizzjoni fi hdan l-Awtorita’ Maltija ghall-Konsumaturi u Kompetizzjoni hareg rapport iehor dwar il-prezzijiet tal-uniformijiet tal-iskejjel. Dan ir-rapport hareg b’certa konkluzjonijiet izda wkoll nieda konsultazzjoni pubblika dwar dan.

X’kienu dawn il-konkluzjonijiet? Li aktar ma l-uniformijiet ikunu specifici ghal skola anqas hi l-ghazla ghall-genituri. Dan jghodd ghall-iskejjel kollha. Dan iwassal ghal aktar prezzijiet gholjin.

Li hemm differenzi fil-prezzijiet tal-uniformijet li ma jistghux jigu spjegati lanqas meta tqis id-differenzi fil-materjal;

Li meta l-uniformijiet iridu jinxtraw minghand xi hanut partikolari, l-uniformijiet ikunu aktar gholjin.

Li s-sistema tat-tenders fiz-zmien tas-survey ma gabitx prezzijiet orhos;

Dawn il-konkluzjonijiet mhux xi haga stramba ghaliex dawn kienu l-istess fatturi li l-istess ufficcju sab xi erba’ snin ilu. L-unika haga li nbidlet hi li minhabba l-politika tad-Dipartiment tal-Edukazzjoni li jinkoraggixxi uniformijiet specifici ghal kull skola, is-sitwazzjoni marret ghall-aghar.

Nemmen li l-aktar punt importanti li hareg dan kollu gej minhabba l-politika tal-iskejjel li jmorru ghal uniformijiet partikolari. Hawn tajjeb li niflu dan il-punt. Zgur li l-identita’ u l-image kienu u llum saru aktar importanti. Biss, biex noholqu dan l-image, bilfors hemm bzonn li niddisinjaw uniformijiet b’hafna kuluri partikolari li bilfors iridu jinxtraw minghand xi hadd partikolari?

Personalment ma nahsibx u nsemmi ezempju biex nohrog dan il-punt. Jekk wiehed ihares lejn il-maggoranza tal-irgiel li qed imexxu Malta, zgur li jsib li hemm numru kbir ta’ dawn li hargu mill-Liceo l-antik tal-Hamrun. Dawn ukoll li kellhom uniformi, kienet uniformi partikolari u kienet tintgharaf. Biss minhabba li kien hemm id-denn, hafna mill-affarijiet tal-uniformi kont tista’ tixtrihom minn fejn trid. Kellhom qmis li hi bajda, qalziet griz, ingravata u blazer. Minn dawn l-affarijiet l-unika haga li kont trid tixtri minghand xi hanut partikolari kienu l-badge tal-iskola u l-ingravata. L-affarijiet l-ohra li jiswew il-flus kont tista’ tixtrihom minfejn trid. Minhabba f’hekk zgur il-prezzijiet ma kinux daqshekk gholjin u l-familji kienu jistghu ilahhqu maghhom minkejja li l-pagi kienu baxxi hafna.

Zgur li din kienet skola tajba u b’identita’. Biss kien hemm l-ghaqal min-naha tad-dirigenti tal-iskejjel u kienu jaghtu kas aktar il-kontenut tal-edukazzjoni li kienu jinghataw it-tfal minflok hafna xinxilli li kull ma jaghtu huma image u spiza akbar ghal edukazzjoni minghajr ma jtejbu l-kwalita’.

Il-prezzijiet ta’ dawn l-affarijiet illum dejjem qed jizdiedu. Tajjeb li naghtu harsa wkoll lejn il-prezzijiet li hareg ir-rapport. Dawn huma bbazati fuq il-prezzijiet tas-sena l-ohra.

	Tal-Gvern	Tal-Knisja	Indipendenti
Qabel il-Primarja	34.47	144.31
Subien (Primarja)Semplici	79.54
Subien (Primarja)Komplessa	117.3	165.49	221.71
Bniet (Primarja) Semplici	80.96
Bniet (Primarja) Komplessa	120.66	187.03	199.23
Subien (Sekondarja)	201.06	188.03	236.56
Bniet (Sekondarja)	212.05	227.1	223.58

It-Tabella ta’ hawn turina kif tvarja n-nefqa fit-tliet livelli. Turina wkoll id-differenza bejn dawk l-uniformijiet li ghandhom disinn semplici u ghalhekk jistghu jinxtraw minn ghad ta’ hwienet u dawk l-uniformijiet li d-disinn taghhom hu kompless u ghalhekk ikunu jistghu jinxtraw minn hanut wiehed jew l-iskola stess. Ir-rapport jghid li din id-differenza fil-prezzijiet mhix gejja minhabba l-kwalita’ bhal ippruvaw jghidu xi whud. Jekk niehdu d-differenza fil-press ta’ uniformi semplici u wahda komplessa, insibu li hemm differenzi kbar fil-prezz. Uniformi tal-Primarja li tkun komplessa tiswa madwar darba u nofs ta’ wahda li tkun semplici!

Dan jindika kemm il-politika ta’ skola dwar l-uniformi tista’ twassal ghal spiza hafna akbar tal-edukazzjoni. Sfortunatament, il-Ministeru tal-Edukazzjoni jidher li qabad it-triq li biex jgholli l-image tal-iskejjel tieghu qed johloq uniformijiet komplessi b’kuluri differenti. Dan qed iwassal ghal spiza hafna akbar ghall-genituri. Li kieku din l-ispiza sejra biex ittejjeb il-kwalita’ tal-edukazzjoni, nifhima, izda sempliciment biex intejbu l-image hi nefqa zejda. Tajjeb li nkunu nafu kemm saret konsultazzjoni fuq l-uniformijiet mal-genituri li finalment qed ihallsu.

Fuq kollox irridu nifhmu li l-affarijiet huma aktar komplessi milli jaghti x’jifhem ir-rapport. Dan ghaliex il-genituri, l-aktar dawk li jahdmu t-tnejn, fuq certi oggetti tal-uniformi jridu jixtru aktar minn wahda jekk iridu jzommu lit-tfal taghhom dejjem indaf. Is-sitwazzjoni qed tkompli tiggrava ghaliex din id-drawwa ta’ komplessita’ fuq l-uniformijiet, qed tinfirex fuq affarijiet ohra. Per ezempju, qalulna li hemm hafna skejjel fejn it-tfal ikollhom jixtru l-affarijiet tal-kitba (stationery) jew minn hanut partikolari jew mill-iskola stess. L-iskuza hi li hemm affarijiet li ma ssibhomx kullimkien. Fil-fatt, jidher li qed isir sforz biex nikkumplikaw l-affarijiet u naghmluhom aktar specifici biex ikollhom jinxtraw minn hanut wiehed jew mill-iskola. Il-mistoqsija tohrog wahedha. Dan ghaliex qed isir? Hemm xi interessi li ma jidhrux?!

Ir-rapport isemmi wkoll li s-sitwazzjoni fl-iskejjel tal-Knisja u dawk Indipendenti l-affari hi aktar ta’ thassib ghaliex hemm hafna mill-iskejjel li jordnaw lill-genituri biex jixtru l-uniformi u l-affarijiet l-ohra minghandhom stess jew minn xi hanut wiehed tal-ghazla taghhom. Dawn qed iwasslu ghal spiza hafna akbar minhabba affarijiet sekondarji u mhux dawk necessarji ghal edukazzjoni ahjar. L-istess mistoqsijiet li staqsejna fil-paragrafu ta’ qabel jergghu jqumu b’aktar sahha. Sfortunatament, ir-rapport ma dahalx f’dawn l-affarijiet.

Ir-rapport jaghmel numru ta’ rakkomandazzjonijiet. L-aktar haga importanti hi li dawn l-affarijiet mhux qed jizviluppaw minhabba prattici hziena fis-suq, izda minhabba l-politika tal-iskejjel fuq l-uniformijiet li qed twassal li jinholqu prattici hziena li jwasslu ghal spiza hafna akbar li jkollhom ihallsu ghaliha l-familji taghna.

Ghall-Ghaqda l-affarijiet li hareg bihom ir-rapport mhux ta’ sorpriza ghaliex konna indikajnihom snin ilu meta qamet l-ewwel darba l-kwistjoni tal-uniformijiet. Dan ir-rapport jikkonferma li dawn il-prattici qed jaqtghu lill-genituri ‘l barra bil-konsegwenza li l-affarijiet qed jigu ddettati mill-iskejjel li ghandhom interessi differenti minn dawk tal-genituri.

Sfortunatamtnet, ir-rapport jieqaf biss fuq rakkomandazzjonijiet minkejja li hemm provi cari li dawn l-affarijiet qed ikissru l-kompetizzjoni. Ghalkemm nistennew rapporti ohra fuq dan it-tip, nemmnu li z-zmien tar-rakkomandazzjonijiet illum spicca u hemm bzonn li nibdew insemmu l-iskejjel li qed juzaw prattici hziena. Fuq kollox l-Ufficcju tal-Kompetizzjoni issa hemm bzonn li jibda jiehu azzjoni biex dawn l-abbuzi li qed ikollhom ihallsu ghalihom il-genituri jieqfu darba ghal dejjem. L-azzjoni trid tibda minn issa biex is-sena d-diehla innaqsu dawn il-problemi li, bla htiega, qed izidu n-nefqa tal-edukazzjoni.

21^st October 2011

A step or a quantum leap?

At the end of last year, a Bill to set up the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) was issued. Unfortunately, there was very little public discussion about the new structure that is being proposed. The reason is that public attention was dominated by competition issues which, if anything, made consumers more conscious of the need that something quite urgent and radical needs to be done in this area.

Basically, the Bill is setting up a new authority through the amalgamation of two basic entities, the Consumer and Competition Division and the Malta Standards Authority. The new MCCA will have four main Directorates – Competition, Consumer Affairs, Standards and Metrology – four important strands for consumer protection. Thus MCCAA ought to act independently of the government of the day and provide a structure where the above-mentioned four strands interact to create a new synergy.

The Bill follows the traditional pattern where Ministerial powers, in our opinion, are excessive. On the other hand, the structure is innovative in that the powers of the four directors general to act independently of each other and of the Chairman are great. These are two points of concern to the Ghaqda as we want a structure which, though following the policy of the government of the day, should act proactively in all those areas where consumer interest is at stake and should provide holistic solutions. On the other hand, the Bill seems to address the issue of transparency quite well.

We believe that this occasion provides an opportunity which should not be missed. The time is ripe for radical changes in this area. The recent issues of petrol stations, distribution of gas and the abrupt changes in the tv channels offered all point out that consumers want and need change in this area. They are fed up with the usual half baked solutions worked out behind doors which all they succeed in doing is avert a conflict through maintaining the status quo to the advantage of the operators and at a higher cost to consumers either through higher prices or taxes.

In this spirit the Ghaqda is proposing that:

· the MCCAA should be continuously supervised through a House Committee where it will have to justify publicly its action or inaction both on achieving its yearly targets and on issues which arise;

· the Chairman together with the DGs will have to be approved by this Committee after satisfying it that they have the vision, ability and consumer interest at heart;

· reduced ministerial powers especially in the MCCAA internal operations;

· the MCCAA should be obliged to co-ordinate with other authorities especially those which deal with consumer services;

· its role should include the supervision of public services;

· more effective and equitable penalties and compensation which reflect today’s reality;

· a radical change in the personnel. Civil servants may occupy such posts initially but then they must decide either to revert back to the civil service or become employed by the MCCA to eliminate any conflict of interest that they might have to protect their career progression;

· the changes to the present Competition Act should focus on substantial and not procedural issues. If anything, the recent issues which cropped up recently indicate this need. The changes must take into cognizance the recent worldwide emphasis that competition law should be directed to ensure that competition must result in direct tangible benefits to consumers.

We believe that the Bill is a step in the right direction. But even the setting up of the Consumer Affairs Department in 1994 was such a step and it took 16 years to change it to an authority, a proposal of the Ghaqda back then. If we were bold then, we would be far ahead from where we are now. We believe that this occasion presents such a challenge – shall we follow the usual line and achieve a step in the right direction or shall we be bold and take radical action and achieve a quantum leap towards more tangible consumer welfare, something that local consumers are yearning for?

The article was published in the Times of Malta on the 13^th January 2011.

Christmas shopping

Christmas is round the corner and if there is a time when consumers are more vibrant in their shopping, surely this is the time. And this is time when consumers should be more careful.

By now most of the shopping for most people is already over. In fact this is the time when complaints are most common. Some of these complaints are not the result of the business community but because of lack of planning. The most common complaint is that consumers realize that they do not need the product they bought. In such a situation, consumers do not have any rights.

However, there are other circumstances where consumers are within their right to complain. But today I will not deal with complaints. Neither will I deal with consumer rights, except one.

This is an important right which unfortunately few know about. It stems from the definition of consumer as defined in our legislation. According to the Consumer Affairs Act a consumer is:

“(i) any individual who in transactions and other matters covered by this Act or any regulations made thereunder, is acting for purposes which are not related to his trade, business, craft or profession; and

(ii) any other individual not being the immediate purchaser or beneficiary, and whether or not a member of the consumer’s household, who having been expressly or tacitly authorised or permitted by the consumer, may have consumed, used or benefited from any goods or services provided to the consumer by a trader acting in the course of a trade, business, craft or profession, including goods or services provided as part of gift schemes and similar or analogous inducements; and …”

Thus a consumer is someone who buys the product or service to consume it and not for the purpose of trading. Moreover, the second paragraph is more important at this time of year as the rights consumers have are not limited to the original consumer but to all others who are permitted by the consumer to use the product. This in effect means that those who receive presents have the same rights as the original consumer.

There is logic behind this as this means that the rights of the original consumer are transferable. Thus if a product is bought and given as a present, who receives the present will also have the same rights. This is because the rights have been transferred by the original consumer.

Having said this all the other conditions apply. For example, one important condition is to keep the receipt. This is especially important nowadays because of parallel trading where the same product may be imported by different importers.

Two important tips for last minute Christmas shopping: The first is DON’T PANIC. Plan your shopping. If you’re unsure about which present to buy, go for vouchers. The second tip is to check carefully the product you’re buying as it might be impossible to change as stocks might be depleted. If you’re buying a service for someone, check the conditions especially if there are any time limits for the service to be availed of, and any other conditions.

This article was published in Maltastar on the 21st December 2011.

Aġenzija tal-Konsumaturi

FL-AĦĦAR elezzjoni kien hemm ħaġa li ż-żewġ partiti ewlenin qablu magħha – it-twaqqif ta’ Aġenzija tal-Konsumaturi. Biss minkejja dan, ftit li xejn kien hemm dettalji dwarha.

Dan il-fatt jindika li ż-żewġ partiti jemmnu li għad fadlilna ħafna x’naqdfu biex inħarsu l-konsumaturi sew mill-eċċessi u n-nuqqasijiet tas-suq. Juri wkoll li l-istrutturi li għandna bħalissa mhumiex qegħdin iħallu l-effett mixtieq.

Tajjeb nagħtu ħarsa ħafifa lejn l-istrutturi statali li għandna bħalissa. Hemm id-Diviżjoni tal-Konsumaturi u l-Kom-petizzjoni. Hemm il-Kunsill għall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur u hemm l-Awtoritajiet li jirregolaw diversi oqsma. Kollha għandhom funzjoni differenti iżda suppost għandek koordi-nazzjoni bejniethom biex jassiguraw li l-kompetizzjoni taħdem tajjeb għall-ġid tal-konsumaturi.

Għalkemm il-Kunsill għall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumaturi mhux parti integrali mid-Diviżjoni, jekk se jsir xi tibdil għandna wkoll inħarsu lejn dan il-Kunsill u naraw dwar ir-rwol tiegħu. S’issa dan dejjem kien is-Cindirella u peress li qatt ma kellu flus ivvutati għalih, dejjem kien jiddependi minn fuq id-Diviżjoni jew idur fuq kumpaniji privati biex jagħmel xi ħaġa. Barra dan il-gvern qatt ma tah importanza u ftit li xejn, mit-twaqqif tie-għu, kien ikkonsultat. Barra dan, ir-relazzjonijiet ta’ dan il-Kunsill mal-għaqda tal-Konsumaturi marru għall-agħar. Minflok ra kif jista’ jgħin lill-unika għaqda li hawn aktar jidher li hu moħħu li juża metodi sproporzjonati biex jaqdi dmirijietu. Fuq kollox, dan l-aħħar snin qatt ma kellu l-ħila li jara l-operat tad-Diviżjoni u jara li din qegħda tipproduċi s-servizz meħtieġ.

Fuq l-Awtoritajiet ftit li xejn nistgħu ngħidu ġdid. Huma biss ftit li qegħdin jagħtu kas li tikber il-kompetizzjoni għall-benefiċċju tal-konsumaturi. Il-maġġoranza tagħhom jin-teressahom li jkunu rubber stamp tal-gvern tal-ġurnata. Ħafna minnhom jinħtiġilhom taqliba kbira fit-tmexxija. Sakemm it-tmexxija ta’ dawn ma tkunx inspirata mill-ġid tal-konsumaturi, minkejja li ħafna għandhom ħaddiema kapaċi, ftit li xejn jista’ jittama l-konsumatur lokali li jista’ jilħaq livelli li huma aċċettabbli fl-Unjoni Ewropea.

Niġu issa għad-Diviżjoni tal-Konsumaturi u l-Kompetiz-zjoni. Niftakar madwar xi għoxrin sena ilu meta twaqqaf id-Dipartiment tal-Konsumaturi l-Għaqda tal-Konsuma-turi kienet qalet li hi tippreferi li kieku minflok dipartiment titwaqqaf awtorità li tkun indipendenti fuq il-mudell tal-Office of Fair Trading tal-Ingilterra. Ngħidha ċara. Li kieku dak iż-żmien kellna l-esperjenza ta’ kif qegħdin jimxu ħafna awtoritajiet illum, il-probabbiltà ma konniex nitolbu dan biss għax ħafna minn dawn l-awtoritajiet illum qegħdin jaħdmu qishom dipartimenti tal-gvern – jagħmlu dak li jrid il-ministru. Id-differenza prinċipali hi li barra l-vot li jirċievu mingħand il-gvern (taxxi mħallsa mill-konsumaturi), qegħdin jimponu prezzijiet għas-servizzi li jagħtu lill-konsumaturi bil-konsegwenza li l-konsumaturi qed ikollhom iħallsu darbtejn għall-istess servizz. It-tieni differenza hi, li speċjalment dawk li jmexxu, is-salarji tagħhom m’għandhomx limiti u mhix marbuta ma’ kemm benefiċċji qegħdin iħallu lill-konsumaturi.

Hu għalhekk li jekk din id-Diviżjoni ssir Awtorità hemm bżonn ta’ aktar tibdil li jkun meħtieġ biex din ma ssirx awtorità oħra li minflok tgħin lill-konsumaturi hi piż ieħor mat-taxxi li diġà jġorru.

Biex naraw x’hemm bżonn li jsir tajjeb naraw l-akbar difetti tal-Awtoritajiet li għandna llum. F’okkażjonijiet oħra diġà ktibt li awtorità timxi tajjeb jew le skont min ikun qed imexxiha. Mhix kwistjoni li l-persuna trid tkun ġejja mill-kamp politiku oppost biex titmexxa tajjeb. Min ikun qed imexxi għandu jkollu l-fiduċja tal-gvern u jmexxi fuq il-politika tal-gvern tal-ġurnata. Biss dan ma jfissirx li l-awtorità titmexxa qisha rubber stamp. Min ikun qed imexxi hemm bżonn li jkollu ideat ċari biex imexxi l-aġenda tal-konsumturi.

Preżentament dan hu l-akbar tħassib tal-konsumaturi. Ħarsa lejn il-ġurnali mill-ewwel tintebaħ li l-konsumaturi jridu li l-istruttura taħdem sew, b’mod effiċjenti, tiddeċiedi fi żmien raġonevoli, u b’mod li l-konsumaturi jkunu jafu dak li qed isir. Hu għalhekk li dak li jsir irid jindirizza din il-problema.

Min imexxi jrid ikollu wkoll il-fiduċja tal-konsumaturi. Biex dan isir hemm bżonn li l-konsumaturi jkollhom idea ta’ min ikun se jmexxi din l-aġenzija. Riċentement assistejna għall-metodu li jin-tuża fl-Ewropa meta titwaqqaf kummissjoni ġdida. Min ikun intgħażel mill-President irid iwieġeb lill-Parlament Ewropew biex jassigura li l-persuna magħżula hi tajba u tista’ tmexxi l-qasam li tkun se tmexxi b’mod li jnissel fiduċja. Din is-sistema mhix xi ħaġa ġdida għax ilha tintuża fl-Istati Uniti tal-Amerika. Jekk titħaddem tajjeb, għandha l-benefiċċji tagħha.


Din is-sistema għandha tibda tintuża u jkun tajjeb li għandha tintuża fuq min se jkun qed imexxi din l-aġenzija jew awtorità. Min jintgħażel bħala Chairman u CEO mill-gvern għandu jidher quddiem Kumitat Parlamentari u jwie-ġeb għall-mistoqsijiet tagħhom fuq dak li bi ħsiebu jagħmel u kif għandu l-ħsieb li jmexxi. Kif taħdem is-sistema nafu għax kien hemm coverage kbir meta nħatar John Dalli bħala Kummissarju. B’hekk kulħadd ikun jaf jekk it-tmexxija l-ġdida għandhiex il-‘mindset’ biex imexxi l-aġenda tal-kon-sumaturi ’l quddiem.

Din is-sistema mhux biss għandha l-benefiċċju li l-Parlament ikollu aktar poteri u skrutinju kif qegħdin jintefqu flus il-konsumaturi iżda tnaq-qas ukoll il-formalità ta’ meta jiltaqa’ l-Parlament kollu u għalhekk forsi tonqos l-għebusija ta’ kif jivvutaw. Din forsi hi aktar tama minn realtà iżda hu pass li għandna nieħdu biex forsi l-affarijiet jimxu aħjar għal kulħadd.

Għandha benefiċċju akbar li min ikun se jmexxi jieħu l-messaġġ li dak li jkun qed jagħmel, se jkun kontabbli għalih. Biss bejn id-diskors u l-fatti hemm baħar jikkumbatti. U għalhekk nemmen li barra li din l-aġenzija jkollha l-iskrutinju tal-Parlament, trid tkun kontabbli kontinwament. Biex isir dan, il-Kumitat Parlamentari jrid ikun responsabbli li kontinwament jissorvelja x-xogħol ta’ din l-aġenzija. Mhux biżżejjed li jkollna s-sistema preżenti fejn awtorità tressaq rapport darba fis-sena fil-Parlament u jsir dibattitu li, tista’ tgħid dejjem, jimxi fuq il-linji tal-partiti politiċi u għalhekk ħlief abjad min-naħa tal-gvern u iswed, min-naħa tal-oppożizzjoni, ma nisimgħux. Bis-sistema preżenti kollox jibqa’ kif inhu għax jekk l-affarijiet imorru ħażin għall-gvern tal-ġurnata, dawn ikunu interpretati bħala vot fuq il-gvern u mhux fuq l-awtorità.

Dan il-Kumitat Parlamentari jrid jassumi ċerta responsabbiltajiet tat-tmexxija u sorveljanza. Meta qed ngħid tmexxija, ma jfissirx li dan il-Kumitat imexxi direttament din l-Aġenzija hu iżda indirettament it-tmexxija trid tkun sorveljata. Ir-rapport annwali mhux biss irid ikun fih x’sar tul is-sena, iżda dak li jrid isir is-sena ta’ wara.


Meta qed ngħid x’sar tul is-sena dan irid iqabbel dak li kellu jintlaħaq ma’ dak li sar. B’hekk nistgħu nkunu nafu kemm qiegħda taħdem tajjeb din l-Aġenzija u jekk din hix qiegħda tkun ‘value for money’. Huma l-uffiċjali li jkunu jridu jwieġbu u mhux il-Ministru li taħtu jaqa’ dan il-qasam. B’hekk tispiċċa s-sistema ta’ ħokkli dahri biex inħokk tiegħek. Illum is-sistema taħdem li dawk li jkunu qegħdin imexxu jkunu r-rubber stamp tal-Ministru u jsir biss dak li jmexxi hu. Min-naħa l-oħra, l-uffiċjali jinsabu komdi wara l-kwinti għax hu l-Ministru li jkollu jwieġeb fil-Parlament.

Semmejt li dan il-Kumitat irid ikun infurmat bil-pjan tas-sena li tkun ġejja. Dan iservi biex ikun kejl ma’ xiex tkun imqabbla l-ħidma sena wara. Iżda dan il-pjan ma jridx ikun biss sett ta’ miżuri iżda jrid jgħid il-bażi li fuqu nbena. Bħala eżempju mhux biżżejjed li ngħidu li l-Aġenzija se tara kif qed jaħdem ċertu suq f’Malta, iżda jrid jgħid x’wassalha li jintgħażel dan is-suq u mhux ieħor. B’hekk l-Aġenzija tkun immexxija fuq strateġija biex jissolvew il-problemi li jkunu qegħdin jiffaċċjaw il-konsumaturi.

Il-Kumitat irid ikun proattiv u jekk ikun ippreżentat b’xi rapport dwar xi suq, m’għandux għalfejn jiddejjaq u jara l-operaturi u l-konsumaturi x’għandhom xi jgħidu. Fuq kollox il-Kumitat ma jridx jiddejjaq li jekk jara li hemm xi ħaġa li ma tkunx qegħda taħdem tajjeb tgħajjat lill-Aġenzija biex tispjega għaliex u xi tkun qegħda tagħmel hi. Riċentement kellna l-każ ta’ trasmissjonijiet tal-logħob tal-futbol tat-Tazza tad-Dinja. Il-Kumitat tal-Parlament sejjaħ lill-Awtoritajiet responsabbli kollha biex iwieġbu għaliex inħolqot din is-sitwazzjoni. Il-fatt li ħareġ li l-kumpaniji nvoluti ma fthemux kien pressjoni pubblika biżżejjed li ressaq lil dawk involuti għall-ġid tal-konsumaturi.

Immaġinaw l-effett li jista’ jkollu jekk, per eżempju, min qed imexxi l-Awtorità tar-Riżorsi jissejjaħ biex pubblikament jgħid għaliex l-Awtorità aċċettat li tgħolli l-gass. Lanqas jekk ma jinbidel xejn, il-konsumaturi jkollhom sodisfazzjon ta’ kif ittieħdet id-deċiżjoni u jaraw jekk l-interessi tagħhom ġewx imħarsa.


Suġġett jaħraq ieħor hu l-prezzijiet tal-mediċini. Suġġett bħal dan hu kkomplikat u nistenna li wara li jsir rapport kif qed jaħdem is-suq ikun hemm public hearing fejn l-affarijiet ikunu trasparenti għal kulħadd. Hu b’hekk biss li jistgħu jispiċċaw is-suspetti ta’ wieħed fuq l-ieħor. Barra minn hekk naraw il-fatturi kollha u minn kobbla mħabbla nippruvaw noħorġu soluzzjonijiet.

Hu minħabba dawn l-affarijiet li nemmen li mhux biżżejjed li nagħmlu Aġenzija li jkollha l-forma ta’ Awtorità. Din l-Aġenzija trid tkun kontabbli u l-aħjar mod li tkun kontabbli hi li l-uffiċjali li jkunu qegħdin imexxuha jkunu hekk b’mod pubbliku.

Published in it-Torca of the 11th July 2010

Characteristics the new Consumer Agency should have

Some time ago in one of my articles, I picked upon some of the characteristics that the new Consumer Agency should have. One characteristic that is necessary is independence especially from the government of the day. Even though at first glance this seems a very plausible proposition, it is still as elusive as ever.

It is a very plausible proposition as the amount of services still provided by the government is still large though it has greatly dwindled. When most services used to be provided by government, it was understandable that such institutions would be controlled if they were to take their task too seriously, as they should have had, they surely would have rocked the boat both for the organisation providing the service and the government of the day.

Three strategies were used. Two of these were used to maintain structural control of the institution which was supposed to ensure a fair deal for consumers. The intention was to ensure that no turbulence is created as a result. The first strategy was to maintain direct Ministerial control through the structure of a department. Mind you, this had some benefits, especially when the politician concerned was interested in the area as it provided the stimulus for the Department to bring about radical changes. However, this direct control ensured that even such radical changes would be implemented in such a way as to ensure that the services provided by government were protected from the pressure they might have had to endure especially where standards were concerned. The same applied to products and services provided by the private sector. I find it hard to remember a public warning issued by the Consumer and Competition Division even though the present legislation permits such action.

The second strategy emanates from such a structure. The departmental structure ensured that the personnel within the structure will tow the line of the government as their career prospects depended on the whims of the political masters. This ensured that the personnel looked up to try to decipher these whims. In the process they lose any motivation and independence they might have had.

The third line to secure the government’s peace of mind were the borders they set for themselves. Public services were defined out of bounds for the simple reason that the consumer does not pay directly for them. Consequently, the services offered by the largest two departments (nowadays called Divisions), those of Health and Education, were excluded. This is in spite of the fact that most of the taxation consumers are paying is being devoted to these entities.

Clearly it is important that the new Consumer Agency will address these three deficiencies as these will shackle the new structure and condemn it to the same status as the old one. The only difference would be a new name. Thus it is worthwhile to discuss how this can be done.

Let’s take a look at the structure itself. This structure should not be answerable to a Minister but to the whole Parliament. This does not mean that such a structure simply should take the form of an authority. The reason is that if we do, there is a high risk that we would end up having another sterile authority. As I have argued in other articles, an important factor is the selection of the Chairman. However, I still believe that we need to take a more structured approach.

As I said above, I believe that such an authority should be answerable to the whole Parliament. Mind you, I do not believe that the usual procedure should be used. The fact that an authority lays its report on the Table of the House and a discussion may ensue is not enough to maintain accountability. I personally believe that if we really believe that Consumer Affairs should be given their true importance and in the process ensure that such an Agency is proactive we need to appoint a standing House Committee to take care of Consumer Affairs in general and this Agency in particular. This Committee should not only review the yearly report but should also discuss the work-plan for the forthcoming year. This work-plan should be amended, if need be, and once finalised should serve as a benchmark against which the following report should be compared with.

Supervision should form only a part of the interaction that should be nourished between this Committee and this Agency. If the Agency is proactive it should provide this Committee with discussion papers of the issues being faced by consumers. This Committee through public interaction should also note the challenges being faced and together with the Agency and the NGOs develop strategies to meet these challenges both on the local front and on the international arena especially at the EU level.

The present Consumer Affairs Act already gives an indication of the importance of market surveillance and this Parliamentary Committee would be the forum where studies undertaken by the new Consumer Agency on certain issues, e.g. how particular markets are operating, would be discussed. In this way problems are dealt with publicly. This will not only destroy the perception that those in power are only interested in the consumer on the eve of an election but will also raise consumer awareness to important issues.

The dependence of the staff on the political class is not restricted to this area. This malady affects all the civil service. Unless and until the civil service is held accountable for its actions, non-actions and ministerial cover-ups it will be difficult to make them committed to the departmental aims and objectives rather than to the Minister. Having such an Agency controlled by a Parliamentary Committee will go a long way to solve this problem as the civil service will have to answer personally and publicly.

The third problem listed above can be solved by simply extending the remit of the Agency to cover services provided by government. Mind you, in today’s world where these services are also being provided by the private sector, it does not make sense to have the private sector part accountable while the chunk provided by the public sector is not. Moreover, the fallacy that the services being provided by the public sector are free does not take much to counter. Consumers know they are paying through their taxes.

There is one final point I wish to make. Why is it taking so long for Government to set up this Agency? My gut feeling is that there is more to it than it appears. I was surprised that when celebrating this year’s Consumer Rights Day nothing was mentioned about it. What was stranger was that days before this Day, the GRTU launched an attack on this Agency questioning ‘the need for such an agency when consumers were already being abusive’. The GRTU said that we are being faced by a ‘”new class of consumer” who is abusive, arrogant and at times violent.’

The Ghaqda tal-Konsumaturi was surprised as our view is that when compared with other EU consumers, ours were definitely not assertive let alone violent. We wrote to the Commissioner of Police to see if this were true. The answer we got was that the Police do not keep such statistics. But we are sure that if it were true that there was any upsurge by consumers, others amongst them the Police would have noticed since being violent is a criminal act and we’re sure that these would have been reported at least in the press. Whatever the case, was it a coincidence that after this attack by the GRTU, nothing was heard again of the Consumer Agency?!

This article was published on Maltastar.com of the 27^thJune 2010

Note: Since the time this article was written, we heard that the new Consumer Agency is in the Government's pipeline.