Situation cries out loud for clarity, calm, common sense and consistency – Chamber
The Chamber of Commerce has called on the authorities to open urgent consultation on all matters related to the Coronavirus and industrial relations and businesses.
In a statement yesterday, the Chamber noted that a meeting of the Employment Relations Board that had been called for Monday has been cancelled, “much to our disappointment in the current circumstances.”
“This morning, scope for discussion seems to have been restored but now this has been transferred
to MCESD at an even later date. The Chamber being aware of the fact the situation is escalating in other countries and regions insists that time is not on our side. The situation is crying out loud for clarity, calm, common sense and consistency,” the Chamber said.
In the context of the Coronavirus situation, the health and welfare of employees is the foremost priority, but damaging effects on businesses and jobs need to be mitigated, the Chamber said.
It also referred to the advice that anyone travelling to affected countries after February 28 is required to stay at home for 14 days from the date of return, and the employee will not be eligible for quarantine leave.
“Urgent dialogue and consultation are required in the interest of national health, because measures taken in the public sector must be complementary and applied in the private sector,” it said.
“Complementarity is crucial to deal with likely situations whereby a quarantined person working in the government sector lives in the same household as someone else whose work is in a private business. There are several other issues that need clarity and urgent resolution so therefore we reiterate our call for urgent discussion to bring about guidance to employers based on sound measures and common sense that are applied at a nationwide level.”
In other developments, the Malta Police Association said yesterday that police officers are being detailed to the homes of people who are under quarantine after travelling to countries affected by the Coronavirus.
In a Facebook post, the MPA said that, from information published by the Department of Public Health, there are currently three people in quarantine.
The association said it has received a number of queries from its members regarding the preparations and precautions adopted by the Malta Police Force on the Coronavirus.
It said officers are being detailed to ensure that people who are in quarantine do not go out of their homes. The police force has issued protective clothing that has to be handed over to other officers if it is not used.
The Association insisted that all members of the police force should have adequate facilities where to wash their hands with water and soap, as well as sanitizer.
Every room in police stations where officers come in contact with other persons should be adequately ventilated, and ideally there should be a perspex screen.
The MPA said police officers should not be in contact with people who are suffering from influenza-like symptoms without the assistance of medical staff. Members of the force should be properly trained on how to seal and dispose of used protective clothing, since this is the most critical moment.
It also insisted that every member of the police force should be given individual protective clothing, rather than hand over this equipment from one officer to another.