The United States and Russia are still at it. The cold war may have ended with the end of the Soviet Union and the emergence of Russia. However, certain factors are still important and both countries have the will and the power to safeguard their interests.

The Greek Saga re Bailout (inewsmalta) presented an opportunity not only for Germany (Facebook ) but also for Russia to get a better balance of the situation in the Balkans. One of the main concerns of Russia is its defence. Russia has got the longest border with other countries and its defensive strategy which was evolved in 1945 collapsed with the foundering of the Soviet Union. The policy was to have buffer states throughout this border and thus ensure a certain amount of security at the expense of others.

However, with the internal turmoil which it experienced with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia could not ensure its strategic defence policy. It was only with the emergence of Putin that Russia attained a certain internal stability and thus could give the importance that was due to defence. Russia, up to a certain extent, could tolerate that the Baltic States would change their role from Russia’s buffer states to the Western European Powers’ buffer states against Russia. But it could not tolerate that it would lose its only secure port for its Mediterranean Navy. Russia made that point clear with the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Russia gave a warning signal that it was not going to tolerate any other strategic changes some years ago when Georgia created troubles on Russia’s border.

Greece offered an opportunity to Russia. Greece was the only country in the Balkan states where Russian influence was at a minimum. The visit of Tsipras to Russia when Greece was still hoping of a better deal with its creditors provided that opportunity. Both Tsipras and Putin were very careful to indicate that a Russian bailout to Greece was not on the table indicating that it was.

The United States countered this move by officially insisting that there will be no Grexit. Officially the USA took the position that this was a European internal affair. But pressure was exerted especially on Merkel to find a solution. So much so that the German Finance Minister is quoted to have said that Europe was ready to exchange with the USA the Greek problem with the Costa Rica problem. In fact the way the USA handled the Costa Rica bailout problem contrasted very much with how the EU tackled Greece. Very few know that the USA had a similar problem with Costa Rica whereas very few if any, have not heard of the Greek bailout and Grexit.

The USA has a vital interest in the EU as the EU is acting as a proxy for the USA’s interests. With the EU there is no need of USA military presence in Europe – note the great reduction of US military basis in Europe. As already noted above, the USA through the EU already succeeded in turning the Baltic States and Poland as a buffer zone for the Western powers. One has to note how the EU membership card was played in Ukraine in an attempt to turn Ukraine into a buffer zone for the West while denying Russia of a strategic naval port. The geopolitical interests in this area are great and I am convinced that the cards are already on the table to have the EU accept, in spite of all problems, Turkey – an essential chip in the geopolitical USA-Russia chess game.

Unions

The Danish village (see facebook and Zvilupp Sostenibbli)   In the late 70’s the unions were at their heyday in most countries.  They were the main force behind social change and they wanted to establish the welfare state as a permanent structure and were forming the idea that the man is holistic and one cannot see the worker as extraneous to the same worker when s/he is part of the family.  This concept was underpinning the concept of a sustainable workforce.  They were a strong social force that could oust a government.  This occurred in many countries. 

 

In the UK, after the winter of discontent they ousted the Labour government.  Little did they realize that their apex of power was also their ‘eve of their destruction’.  With the advent of Margaret Thatcher the Right in many countries took control and the first thing they did was to curb the powers of trade unions and castrate them. 

But Rightists governments were not the only force.  There were other forces at work.  The main one was that the world had changed under their feet without them realising it. 
 
There were two main forces at work.  The first was globalisation which at that time, due to technological advancement, created one global labour market.  A national union can fight successfully in a closed national labour market but could never have any effect on a globalised labour market unless ‘the workers of the world unite’.

The second factor was labour itself.  Education changed labour itself.  Whereas before, workers could only identify themselves through groups, with their higher educational status could identify themselves on their own.  They believed that they could make it on their own without the help of others and thus solidarity dwindled.  This was the case of certain occupations especially highly technical and professional.  Little did they realise that globalisation affects all.  Whereas in previous times, these workers could use their political power to corner a market and thus ensure high wages and superb conditions of work, the opening to globalisation increased supply.

This reminds me of Niemöller, a German pastor who after being imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps, he penned these infamous words:

First they came for the Socialists,
and I did not speak out –
because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionist,
and I did not speak out –
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out –
because I was not a Jew.
And then they came for me –
and there was no one left to speak for me.”

It is still too early for people to realize the great limitations of individualism.  Hopefully, the times of solidarity among people will again be considered as a vital social value.

Shop Opening Hours – public consultation

Recently the Government issued a public consultation document on the Shop Opening Hours proposing a reform.  I have already dealt with some issues in my inewsmalta.com blog (BBBinews blog) particularly regarding the proposed opening hours. However, there are other aspects that caught my attention.

Though the suggestions take only one page, the document’s structure facilitates analysis as it has got a background of the current legislation, the exemptions, the shortcomings of the current legislation and annexes, the most interesting of which is the list pointing to 25 different licenses.

Going through the document one is amazed by the hoch poch approach this issue was tackled over the years and the bureaucracy it created. 
 

Principle
The main principle behind all the legislation was that of restricting the shop opening hours.  This shows that this legislation took only in consideration the business interests.  The idea behind the restriction of shop hours was to restrict business to those hours which most suited certain business and restrict competition.  The main principle was that if it does not suit me to work on a particular hour, nobody should.  It should be remembered that most of this legislation developed before the 1990’s when parallel importation was restricted and thus up to a certain extent each product had a monopolistic market. 

I like to emphasise that the interests of the employees in this sector were not considered as otherwise this would have dictated the number of hours that employees should have.  As I had pointed out in my inewsmalta article, the opening hours of a business entity does not influence the conditions of work.  The fact that a factory operates on a 24/7 basis does not mean that the workers operate on the same basis.  The employees of such an entity work on a shift basis where the work/rest balance is respected.

Neither were the interests of consumers the basis of this legislation as otherwise the principle would have been the minimum closing time and not the maximum opening hours permitted.  The consumer is concerned when shops are closed and not when they are open.  One example is pharmacies.  Consumers are concerned that most pharmacies do not open on Sunday.  The present system is one where not all localities have a pharmacy open on Sunday and even those which open on this day do not open all day as if there aren’t consumers who need to buy medicines during hours where pharmacies are closed.  The interest of consumers is to have the maximum number of hours of pharmacy service. 

Bureaucracy or red tape
The document gives an overview of the present regulation and points at the differentiation that the legislation makes regarding shop opening hours.  There seems to be two main parameters which form the basis of this differentiation – locality and the items predominantly sold.  Through these two factors it lists not less than 14 differentiations which permit shops to have their opening hours from total closure to 24hrs service on Sundays and Public holidays. 

This legislation does not recognize the convergence that had occurred throughout time regarding the ware that shops sell and the localities.  If we take the first factor, one notices that all shop owners today realize that specialisation in what they sell can be detrimental to their turnover because of the restricted market size that Malta can provide.  Thus the way forward for most is to try to create a one stop shop for most.  This can be seen in the case of pharmacies where nowadays all pharmacies have only a part of the pharmacy which specialises in medicine.  The rest is dedicated to cosmetics, perfumes and you name it.  Once this is recognized, then all shops should be treated the same. 

The same goes with locality.  Previously one could identify the main shopping centres around the Island.  However, today, retail outlets have mushroomed everywhere with the spread of the population to previously mainly agricultural land in either new localities or newly built outskirts of existing localities.  Thus whereas previously it may have made sense to differentiate between localities, nowadays such differentiation brings only confusion and bureaucracy. 

As I had already pointed out, one is amazed by the maze of legislation in this sector.  One understands that this set of legislation really is a disincentive to the setting up of new retail outlets.  Simplification through less bureaucracy is not only essential but possible.

Enforcement
This document for many does not have any meaning as they know that reality has already decided what the shop opening hours are.  They depend on the market of the particular sector and locality and no legislation will be able to arrest this development. 

There are two reasons for this.  First, this new reality serves the interests of both business and consumers and thus both together constitute a very strong force.  The second reason is enforcement or the lack of it.  One characteristic of our administration is the lack of enforcement.  All authorities prefer a softer and less troublesome approach of ‘education’.  This approach not only leads to a more peaceful life to our public officers but gives also more publicity.  Another benefit is that there are no quantifiable results that are expected especially in the short run.  Thus there is no accountability or transparency.

The problem with enforcement is that it tries to change the behaviour of people.  Many studies today show that enforcement is a very difficult process and many a time it is bound to fail.  However, it does not mean that we should not enforce legislation.  The reasons for this are explained above.

What this reality leads us to is that legislation should be designed so as to be simple and also use behavioural forces of those concerned to lead to more conformity with what is being sought to be achieved.  In fact that is why many governments nowadays use behavioural experts to help design legislation which is more effective and less burdensome both on the actors and on the administration.  This is because this type of legislation is more in line with people’s behaviour and thus needs less enforcement.

One possible way out, especially when a piece of legislation has been amended several times over time is to go back to the basics and ask the question of what is trying to be achieved for the benefit of society. In this respect we need to know what such legislation is intended to achieve.  The document points to this as it argues that if all regulation were to be removed, ‘there will be those who abuse, to the detriment, mainly, of the employees and those living in the proximity of the shops’.

Thus the legislation is intended to control these abuses.  But will it do so?  Will this aim be achieved through controlling shop opening hours?  I seriously doubt it.  If controlling opening hours will do it, then at present there are no abuses in these areas.  Everybody knows there is because there is no enforcement and it is impossible to ensure conformity on all retail outlets. 

As I wrote, conditions of work will only be achieved once the workers are organised while protecting those in proximity of shops can be achieved through controlling the hours of distributions as they presently are in Valletta. 

Licenses
Licenses had a purpose in the old days.  One could not open a shop without a license and one would not obtain a license unless his shop is in conformity with all the legislation.  Thus it was justified that the government would cover some of the costs involved.  It was a long process and one open to abuse especially in restricting new entrants in the market.  With the changes that occurred once Malta joined the EU, it became the responsibility of the owner to ensure conformity with the legislation.  Thus at present, the license serves nothing but as a source of government revenue. 

If one considers the above, then one finds no justification in restricting shop opening hours.

Election Holiday

The European Parliament’s election is just round the corner.  Votes are already being distributed while arrangements are being made for Maltese living abroad to come to vote in Malta.

The later arrangement makes me sick as this is nothing but giving a cheap holiday in Malta to those Maltese who are living abroad.  The problem is that indirectly it is you and me who are subsidizing this holiday.  I do not know who is paying for this subsidy, whether it is the government of Malta or Air Malta.  For me it is just the same as the Government of Malta pays out of the taxation I pay while if it is Air Malta, I will be paying this subsidy through higher prices Air Malta charges.

But does this mean that we should deny those Maltese living abroad the right to vote?  Definitely not.  A simple arrangement would be to provide voting facilities to these Maltese in the Malta Embassies.  If the political parties feel that they should monitor the voting in these locations there would be nothing to stop the political parties to have representatives as long as they pay for their stay. 

In this way, the rights of all – local taxpayers, Maltese living abroad and the political parties – would have their right secured.

Business Hours

The discussion regarding business hours for retail outlets have been going on for years.  I do not think that there is anything new to be told.  So, why raise the issue?

Really the issue has been raised by a statement by the GRTU, during a visit by the Minister responsible for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, that most of the retail owners believe that business hours should be regulated by them directly.  

This statement shows the time lag that it takes small businesses to realize that change is needed and that the business environment has radically changed.  The GRTU is to be remembered of its campaign against liberal shopping hours when Bay Street shopping centre opened at St Julians.  At that time the owners of this shopping centre started opening also on Sunday.  The GRTU brought about all sorts of arguments including the argument that it goes against the Catholic religion to work on Sunday etc. etc.  Then the situation was diffused especially when Bay Street started collecting signatures to push for a referendum on shopping hours by granting exception to Bay Street.  

The government then started to turn a blind eye on those who contravened the existing regulations by opening whenever they thought to do so. 

 

One may ask why the government sought to appease the GRTU.  The reason is the affinity that exists between the business sector and the political class in Malta.  Though political parties depend on ‘donations’ of big business, the election candidates depend on small business especially through ‘donations’ in kind.  Though there have been quite a lot of rhetoric regarding the need for new legislation on political parties funding, we are still waiting to see the Bill come to light.   I sincerely hope that it would be a breakthrough.

Arriva – imma meta?!

L-Arriva issa ilha sena topera s-servizz li nsejhulu l-karozzi tal-linja.  Sena hu tul bizzejjed sabiex azjenda gdida tibda taghti s-servizz li kien imwieghed.

It-targets li tpoggew kienu gholja hafna u kien ghalhekk li n-nies hadu r-ruh meta rcevew leaflets li hargu l-aktar affarijiet tajba li kellhom jintlahqu.  Dawn kienu kuntrast kbir mal-istampa li kellhom hafna nies ta’ dak li kellna.  Zgur li l-aktar haga li kienet iddejjaq in-nies kienet l-arroganza tax-xufiera.  Kienu jqisu ruhhom allat ghax kienu jaghmlu dak li jridu minghajr hadd ma jkellimhom.  L-awtoritajiet kienu jiehdu l-passi meta xi incident kien jasal ghand il-gazzetti.  

Biss biex nghidu kollox, is-servizz kien tjieb fl-ahhar zminijiet.  Il-frekwenza tal-karozzi kienet zdiedet b’rotot godda li kienu qed joffru servizz adekwat meta tqis sew il-prezz li kien jithallas u sew il-htigiet.  Zgur li l-aktar servizz li kien ghal qalb il-Maltin kienet ir-rotta tal-Isptar.  Is-servizz ma kienx perfett, anzi.  Ghalkemm ix-xufiera kienu l-akbar problema, kien hemm affarijiet ohra li dejqu n-nies.  Fost dawn kien hemm il-karozzi.  L-istramberija kienet li ftit ta’ snin qabel it-taxpayer kien hallas somma kbira biex il-karozzi jinbidlu.  Biss fl-ahhar l-aktar karozzi li kienu qed jintuzaw kienu l-qodma.  X’sar minnhom dawn il-karozzi/flus?  Qatt ma qalulna.

Is-servizz tal-Arriva beda b’hafna pompa li mal-ewwel iccajpar.   Kien hemm il-problema tax-xufiera li kienu holqu intoppi serji meta beda s-servizz.  Jekk xejn dawn l-intoppi servew biex il-konsumaturi jissaportu n-nuqqasijiet li dehru mal-ewwel u kollox inheba.   L-aktar problema li kien hemm kienet ir-rotot il-godda li wrew li meta tkun trid tbiddel xi haga radikalment trid ikollok saqajk mal-art.  Biex aktar inkomplu nghaxxquha introducejna l-ismijiet ghal kull stage.  Biex zgur nikkumplikawhom hadna l-ismijiet tat-toroq vicini meta l-Maltin kienu juzaw sistema ohra – nuzaw stabbilimenti u bini fil-vicin biex dawk li ma jkunux tal-post ikunu jistghu jaghrfu l-istage.  L-introduzzjoni tar-rotot  u l-ismijiet tal-istages urew li l-ippjanar ma jistax isir biss minn fuq l-iskrivanija izda billi tohrog u tipprova dak li tkun ser tintroduci. Tara s-sistema li juzaw in-nies biex taghmel il-bidla aktar facli.  

Illum ir-rotot m’ghadhomx problema ghaliex tista’ tghid li ghall-maggoranza taghhom ergajna morna ghal dak li kellna.  Bhal m’ghidt il-konsumaturi kienu pacenzjuzi bil-problemi li kien hemm ghaliex l-ewwel wahhalna fix-xufiera u wara f’dawk li fettillhom jibdlu r-rotot mil-lejl ghan-nhar.  Illum dawn ghaddew u l-konsumaturi m’ghandhomx aktar f’min iwahhlu hlief fl-Arriva.

X’inhuma dawn il-problemi.  Zgur li l-akbar problema li hemm illum hi ergajna morna fl-aghar zminijiet f’dak li hu hinijiet.  Illum is-sistema tat-trasport pubbliku saret bhal dik tal-qorti – taf meta hrigt mid-dar izda qatt ma tista’ tghid fi x’hin ser tasal fejn trid.  Din hi problema kbira ghaliex din qed tgherri l-kredibilita’ tas-servizz.  Hafna drabi qed jigri li l-konsumaturi jkollhom jistennew hafna fuq l-istage u wara tara xi zewg karozzi ta’ dik ir-rotta ghaddejjin wara xulxin.  Dak li semma Victor Vella ma kinux xi rarita’.  Dan l-ahhar kont qed nistenna San Tumas biex immur il-Belt.  Wasalt fuq l-istage fl-ghaxra nieqes ghaxra.  Domt nistenna sal-hdax neqsin ghoxrin minuta.  Ghaddew l-X5 u ohrajn izda m’ghadditx wahda minn 91,92 jew 93.  Qtajt qalbi, mort id-dar u tlqat bil-karozza tieghi.

Biss din tal-hin ghalkemm l-aktar importanti, mhux l-unika haga li qed iddejjaq in-nies.  Kien hemm affarijiet ohra mwieghda.  Il-karozzi kellhom ikollhom l-arja kondizzjonata.  Din ghadna ‘l boghod milli nilhquha.  Dan l-ahhar kont qed naghmel nota fuq dak li gie mwieghed u dak li s’issa ghadu ma wasalx.  U din hi wahda minnhom.  Skont dak li kkalkolajt fuq perjodu ta’ hmistax-il gurnata sibt li madwar 30% m’ghandhomx arja kkundizzjonata jew ma kinitx qed tintuza.  Din tal-arja kkundizzjonata llum tinhass aktar.  Ir-raguni hi li ghandek hafna karozzi li jghabbu hafna passiggieri u jzommu l-bibien maghluqa, kif suppost.  L-effett izda hu li meta tinzerta hekk, thossok li qieghed go tebut specjalment illum bis-shana li ghandna.

L-istess ma nistax nifhem kif ghad ghandna ammont ta’ karozzi li ghad m’ghandhomx in-numri jahdmu b’mod elettroniku.  Ghad ghandna hafna karozzi li n-numru tar-rotta hu miktub  fuq bicca karta mwahhla bit-tape!  Jekk niehdu l-informazzjoni fejn tkun waslet il-karozza xorta nsibu li ghad ghandna sezzjoni mhux hazin li m’ghandhomx sistema elettronika li turik l-istage li jmiss.  Hemm ohrajn li jehduna lura ghas-sistema l-antika ghaliex la sinjal elettroniku u lanqas avviz ma jinghata.

Is-sistema kellha wkoll ikollha sistema li meta tkun fuq stage turik liema karozza tkun gejja u l-hin.  Din mhix xi sistema li qed tintuza l-ewwel darba f’Malta.  Din hi sistema li tintuza fis-servizzi tat-trasport pubbliku kullimkien.  Allura ghaliex wara sena ghad ma rnexxilniex li jkollna wahda li tahdem tajjeb.  L-isbah hi li llum ghandek certu stages fejn din is-sistema qed tahdem tajjeb.  F’ohrajn is-sistema turik li l-karozza ghad trid tasal, meta fil-fatt diga’ tkun ghaddiet.  Ohrajn din is-sistema ma tahdimx.  Wahda minn dawn hi dik li hemm fit-terminus tal-Belt, in-numru 13.  

Dan mhux kollox ghaliex hemm zewg affarijiet ohra li l-konsumaturi ghandhom ma ttendewx.  L-ewwel hi certu unfair terms li nsibu fil-kundizzjonijiet tal-ivvjaggar.  Il-konsumaturi qed jigu mcahhda li jiehdu kumpens anki jekk ikun traskuragni tal-kumpanija.  L-ohra hi l-prezz.  Min juza tal-linja,  dan l-ahhar seta’ jittendi li twahhlet tabella.  Din turi li l-prezzijiet huma:

Li mhux qed jittendu l-konsumaturi hi li meta tispicca d-deroga (jekk hemm) ezistenti, il-prezzjijet ghall-Maltin ser joghlew bil-kbir ghaliex ikollhom ihallsu l-istess prezzijiet bhat-turisti.  Din is-sistema nholqot biex tinholoq raguni ghaliex barranin, anki dawk gejjin mill-UE, qed ikollhom ihallsu hafna aktar.  Zgur li meta tasal din ser tolqot l-aktar hazin lill-penzjonanti ghaliex il-biljett ta’ gurnata ser jitla’ minn 50c ghal €2.60.

Problema ohra li qed tizviluppa hi l-attitudni tal-haddiema.  Din bil-mod il-mod sejra lura.  Diga’ tidher certa guffagni mal-passigieri.  Diga’ qed naraw li fejn qabel kull karozza titrakka mal-bankina, issa hemm hafna li nsewha din il-prattika.  L-istess l-attitudni fis-sewqan.  Bhal ma kont ktibt fuq is-sistema l-ohra, nemmen li din l-attitudni gejja minn kif nistmaw il-haddiema.  Illum dawn jinsabu l-Furjana kwazi f’nofs ta’ triq!  Mhux talli din qed thalli impressjoni hazina, izda qed nistmaw dawn il-haddiema ta’ annimali.  Jekk haddiem tistmah hekk, hekk ser jagixxi.  Dejjem kont nemmen li dawn ghandhom ikollom post adekwat u attrezzat bil-facilitajiet.  Dan ghandu jsir minghajr telf taz-zmien ghaliex wara ghalxejn noqghodu ngergru ghall-attitudni tal-haddiema.  Din hi responsabilta’ sew tal-Arriva u ta’ Transport Malta li jipprovdu post  disentí ghal dawn il-haddiema.

Jien kont wiehed li kont qed nemmen li dan is-servizz jista’ verament joffri alternattiva ghal hafna karozzi li ghandna fit-toroq taghna.  Kont qed nuza l-karozza tieghi biss meta jew ir-rotot ikunu kkumplikati, jew meta rrid nizgura li ser nasal fil-hin jew meta mmur nixtri.  Kont lest li nissaporti.  Biss illum qtajt qalbi u qed nuza tal-linja biss meta il-hin mhux importanti.    Sfortunatament,  illum is-servizz li ghandna hu tajjeb jekk int m’ghandekx x’taghmel u trid tqatta’ l-hin.  Kull ma trid hu irkeb l-Arriva u mohhok mistrieh li tista’ tqatta’ gurnata – hafna mill-hin tistenna l-Arriva tasal!

Benny Borg Bonello

Ghaqda tal-Konsumaturi

www.camalta.org.mt

Min għandu t-tort iħallas!

Ftit ta’ zmien ilu thabbar li hemm probabilita’ li l-MEPA kienet ser twahhal penali sew lil Enemalta u sew lil Wasteserve talli ma wettqux l-obbligi taghhom.

Dan hu pass importanti biex sew nassiguraw kontabilita’ u anki r-rule of law (li l-ligi tapplika ghal kulhadd u mhux ghaz-zghir). Biss dan il-pass hu biss bicca min dak li ghandu jsir.

Jekk jigu imposti dawn il-penali x’ser jigri. Bis-sistema li hemm bhalissa, l-Enemalta jew il-Wasteserve jhallsu, idahhluhom fil-kotba bhala spiza u jghaddu din l-ispiza fuq il-konsumaturi. Dan ifisser li fil-prezent huma l-konsumaturi li ser ikollhom ihallsu tal-izbalji ta’ haddiehor, f’dan il-kaz permezz ta’ tariffi aktar gholja ghall-elettriku u l-ilma li nikkunsmaw!

Biex il-process ikun wiehed gust, is-sistema trid tigi rrangata. Hemm bzonn min ha decizjonijiet hziena jew ma hax decizjonijiet li kellu jiehu, jhallas dawn il-multi hu. Fost dawk li huma minn ta’ quddiem hemm id-Diretturi u l-management ta’ dawn il-kumpaniji li hemm bzonn iwiegbu jew ihallsu. Dawn id-Diretturi u l-management ghalhekk jithallsu.

Jekk dawn ma setghux jiehdu dawk id-decizjonijiet li suppost hadu ghandhom jghidu ghaliex. Illum spicca z-zmien li nibqghu nikkummidjaw bil-konsumaturi u kulhadd ghandu jkun responsabbli ghal ghemilu.

Benny Borg Bonello

Ghaqda tal-Konsumaturi

Published in Torca 15th April 2012 http://www.torca.com.mt/FullArticle.php?ID1=%27Ittri%27&ID2=41827