The success of Malta’s foreign businesses is testament to the unwavering hard work, loyalty and ambition of its people. Maltese employees are reputed for their high levels of productivity and excellent work ethic. So it is no surprise that Malta’s professional workforce is rated the most production in the EU25 (Eurostat 2006). The Maltese workforce is fully familiar with business terminology and colloquial English, and who can speak it without the impediment of a thick accent. Indeed, as English is the official language of business and academia, it is spoken fluently by 90% of the population.
But it doesn’t end there. The Maltese are multi-skilled, well educated and equally importantly, experienced with technology. Each year, Malta has a steady influx of undergraduates and new students entering further and higher education. In fact, the standard of degree courses is highly regarded outside Malta, particularly in the fields of engineering, pharmacy, computer science, medicine, commerce and related subjects.
At the more practical level, there is an ample supply of employees with internationally recognised diplomas from the vocational college, the Malta College of Science, Arts & Technology (MCAST). Here again, Malta’s small size works to industry’s advantage. If there is a skills shortage in any area, courses will quickly be introduced. Even the University of Malta is responsive to the needs of industry and under the guidance of Malta Enterprise, will introduce degree courses to cater for the skill requirements of new or existing industries.
Malta’s public employment service, the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) also provided invaluable help to companies. It puts on free training courses as and when required by industry, maintains a register of people seeking employment which it matches with job vacancies, and runs the state financed apprenticeship schemes. But this is not all that is being done to maintain successful business growth. Conscious of the need to ensure the labour needs of the country's growing industrial sector, the government has instigated a new programme of financial and social incentives to encourage married women back to the workplace, thereby providing another pool of skilled workers.
Updated: 28th March 2008
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