Secret plans to share hospital profits via firm linked to Joseph Muscat
The Swiss company that hired Joseph Muscat as a “consultant” had a secret agreement to receive 30% of Steward Health Care’s dividends from its allegedly “fraudulent” hospitals deal. The story has been revealed in a collaborative effort between The Times of Malta, the OCRRP and the Daphne Foundation. A magisterial inquiry into the failed hospitals deal, which led prosecutors to charge Muscat and dozens of others, only briefly mentions this secret arrangement. The deal granted Accutor, a Swiss-based firm, rights to participate in Steward’s operations in Malta, effectively giving them a share of the company’s profits through dividends and earnings. Nine months after the secret profit-sharing agreement was signed, Muscat was put on a €15,000-per-month consultancy by Bhatti. (Times of Malta)
Mandatory unionisation ‘positive, but should be part of wider upgrade of workers’ rights’ – NGO
Moviment Graffitti has expressed support for a proposed law requiring all low-income workers in Malta to join a union. The NGO stated that this initiative would provide workers with the opportunity to be part of a union, ensuring protection and participation in union actions. Currently, many workers in low-income jobs are not unionised, especially in sectors like food and retail, where only about 11% were unionised in 2018. Mandatory unionisation would offer guaranteed protection to workers facing exploitation, poor contracts, and inadequate health and safety conditions, and encourage them to stand up for their rights. (Newsbook)
VO support scheme re-launched
The Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) has relaunched the Voluntary Organisations Projects Scheme (VOPS), the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector announced on Monday. The Ministry stated that the scheme aims to provide financial support to voluntary organizations to help them develop their ideas into community projects. An amount of €800,000 has been allocated for this year, to be distributed among organizations that successfully apply for various initiatives, including community projects, infrastructure improvements, or research. Over the past eight years, approximately €7.3 million has been distributed through this scheme. (The Malta Independent)
