Background information

COVID-19 had a negative impact upon many enterprises in Malta. In order to support such organisations, the major employer and professional associations in Malta have been conducting research amongst their members to determine the impact of COVID-19. The primary aim of this is to have an up to date picture of the impact upon members and to use this to inform the government whilst also using it to provide direction when drafting policy recommendations.

Content of measure

Various employer associations have been conducting research amongst their members. The purpose of this data is to inform policy recommendations and for use during lobbying with government and other social partners.

The Malta Employers Association (MEA) conducted its third COVID-19 survey amongst its members in September 2020. The survey had three aims:

• To evaluate business performance by sector and company size;
• To determine employers’ projections for the coming months;
• To study the labour market potential in surviving the pandemic.

Preliminary findings published by the MEA (September 2020) highlighted that 81% of organisations reported a loss of business since the start of the pandemic, with 45% of respondents reporting a loss of business of 45% or more. Almost half of respondents, however, reported that the situation was better between June and August than it was between March and May. 19% (45 organisations) reported making redundancies between June-August. Sixty-five percent of organisations also reported that they have employees who are making use of teleworking.

Other related research has been conducted by the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry (known as the Malta Chamber) as well as by The Malta Chamber of SMEs. Research by the latter (July 2020) highlighted that sales levels, uncertainty, and employee wages were the greatest concerns for SMEs, that 13% of respondents had instigated redundancies due to COVID-19, and that government COVID-19 measures had been generally well received.

Surveys have also been conducted by other professional groups that represent employers / self-employed professional workers, such as that conducted by the Chamber of Architects (Kamra tal-Periti).

Use of measure

The individual research projects have been used for lobbying and to inform recommended policy direction. More specific information is unavailable.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Employers' organisations	Employers organisation

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

The surveys were designed by the specific employer's associations and then distributed amongst their members. The analysis and publication of these findings was also the remit of the specific employer associations. The findings were used primarily during discussions between the employer associations and government.

Views and reactions

Specific findings from employer associations' surveys have led to specific reactions often by employer associations and Government. Amongst the most common reactions were findings that organisations hailing from sectors that had been given less financial support from Government (as they were appraised as a sector that was less badly hit by COVID-19) also required greater support. Recommendations that organisations in general require greater aid with rent has also emerged from such surveys.

Sources

• 31 July 2020: Malta Chamber SMEs - Survey on the continued effect of COVID-19 on business in Malta (www.smechamber.mt)
• 09 September 2020: Malta Employers Association - COVID-19 survey September 2020 (www.maltaemployers.com)