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Malta Chamber of SMEs

SME Chamber

Malta Chamber of SMEs is one of the largest employers’ associations in Malta - representing over 7,000 entrepreneurs and businesses active in over 90 sectors.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Thomas Bajada (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Apr 2025 · The Economy of Wellbeing

Response to A New Consumer Agenda

11 Aug 2020

An aspect where the new consumer agenda must delve into is extraordinary circumstances and the consequences related to this. During Covid a number of decisions were taken in the public interest, either worldwide or at national level by policy makers. This impeded business operators to go through with providing their service and therefore the lack of service provision was not at the fault of business but due to decisions taken. Having said this the Governments tried to apply normal rules, waging a war between businesses and consumers, at a time of great hardship and stress for all parties involves. In these circumstances the government must be obliged to carry the consequences of its decisions and give consumers what is fairly theirs, when there are losses that cannot be made up for. After months of negotiations the member states are slowly reaching this position of understanding that unless the state intervenes, businesses and consumers will become big losers. This however should not be subject to undergoing such a painful process and be subjectively dependent on how pro-active the national governments are, leading to the unequal enjoyment of rights for consumers and and an unlevel playing field that has potential repercussions of insolvency on businesses. The main difficult cases we have encounters: - Booked weddings - Package travel Both these sectors had that additional ordeal to deal with more than others are already dealing with trying to resolve problems with their clients. The result is deterioration of mental health of both stakeholders because of the pressures, increased level of distrust, reputational damage and financial hardship for consumers (couples witht he feeling that they have been robbed). The local consumer affairs authorities should have enough powers to intervene and decide to address certain situations with extraordinary compensation and not just bounce off complaints by saying consumers must be refunded, knowing very well that consumers are being driven towards a dead end. We represent both sectors outlined above and can share our detailed thoughts and experience with what happened.
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