MCF is consulted on the Public Sector Co-operatives reform
On the 11th February 2015 the Malta Co-operative Federation was invited to share its views with the Committee entrusted by the Maltese Government to evaluate the Public Sector Co-operative reform. The Federation's President Mr. John Mallia and the Federation's CEO Mr. Rolan Micallef Attard represented the Malta Co-operative Federation. Currently employees in the Public Sector may form Co-operative Societies under what are known as Scheme A and Scheme B. These policies were launched in 1996 and have remained unaltered ever-since. There are currently 4 registered co-operatives of this type in Malta and the Malta Co-operative Federation informed the Committee that [...]
The Chairperson of the Co-operatives Board addresses the Federation’s AGM 2014
Photo: Ruben Overend The very well attended AGM 2014 of the Malta Co-operative Federation held on the 18th November 2014 was addressed by Ms Frances Mifsud, the Chairperson of the Co-operatives Board. Accompanied by two other Co-operatives Board Members, Mr Joseph Abela and Mr Angelo Azzopardi, Ms Mifsud outlined the new funding opportunities that shall now be available to the Malta Co-operative Federation. It was announced that these imminent funding regulations were expected to come into force early in 2015 and this once Minister Christian Cardona tables in Parliament the awaited changes to the Central Co-operative Fund Regulations. The Federation [...]
Co-operatives mentioned again in Malta Government Budget 2015
On the 17th November 2014, Minister Edward Scicluna addressed co-operative matters in his government’s budget speech for 2015. He claimed that his government found a lacuna in the co-operative sector in Malta and that his government is committed to promoting the utilisation of the co-operative model. Additionally government was to ensure a level playing field for cooperatives such that they may operate without any disadvantage when compared to other models of enterprise. He focused on the situation of the co-operative schemes in the public sector, launched in 1996 and which were not in sync with the 2001 co-operative legislative changes. [...]
Urban Lab Cooperative Ltd joins the Malta Co-operative Federation
On November 7, 2014 the Council of the Malta Co-operative Federation approved Urban Lab Cooperative Ltd as a new Member Society of the Federation. The founder members of this newly registered co-operative are from Italy, Spain and Malta. They have gained different complementary experiences over time in a variety of areas. They have supported public authorities in the sectors of integrated programming, urban and regional planning, citizens’ participation, analysis and implementation of policies, energy saving and energy production from renewable sources. They have also worked in the field of European Cohesion Policy (in particular, European Territorial Cooperation) and international development [...]
Notice of the Federation’s 2014 AGM
Notice of the Annual General Meeting 2014 Annual General Meeting 2014 The Annual General Meeting of the Malta Co-operative Federation shall be held on Tuesday, 18th November 2014 at 6:00PM at 87, St Ursola Street, Valletta. Rolan Micallef Attard Secretary General
Finally, a Co-operatives Act for the UK
As of the 1st August 2014, co-operative societies in the UK shall be recognized as such under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. The new Act is intended to make it easier to form a co-operative society in the UK. Until now co-operatives in the UK were regulated by various pieces of legislation which led to this consolidation following a Conservative Government initiative. This initiative was triggered in 2012 during the International Year of Co-operatives. This piece of legislation is thought to be an opportunity to create a level the playing field for co-ops and mutuals and to encourage [...]