A number of unions, confederations and local associations will benefit from funds intended for civil society through the Civil Society Fund, managed by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS). This financial assistance aims to facilitate the participation of these unions and associations in European and international forums. This includes collaboration with foreign associations, including membership in networks, confederations, associations, attendance at conferences and meetings, and also training on a European dimension. UĦM Voice of the Workers, the General Workers’ Union, the Malta Chamber of SMEs, the Malta Employers’ Association and the Maltese Unions Forum will benefit from €58,000 each in order to strengthen participation and collaboration theirs in full on a European and international scale.
The Minister for Inclusion, Volunteering and Consumer Rights Julia Farrugia Portelli said that the contribution of the unions is well known. “They created in one chain, with every essential link,” said Minister Farrugia Portelli and she stresses that their participation in foreign fields, particularly European ones, has always been a contribution and has always been good for our country. She said that she is convinced that the funds provided will be of valuable help to increase their participation in foreign events and more so to provide training to strengthen such participation.
Gertrude Buttigieg, the Chairperson of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector, said that it is very important that we continue to support these entities, which are giving a voice to many citizens through their work in their various respective sectors. In this way, they continue to strengthen this voice not only in Malta but also in European forums where they are often discussed and decisions are taken that have an impact on Malta. Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Chief Executive of the Council, stated that an important aspect of this fund is also the training and strengthening of skills, so that as a country we continue to strengthen not only the organizations benefit from these -funds, but also their members, most of whom are workers from all walks of life, also benefit.
