The Public Service EXPO 2023

The Public Service launched its new identity with the vision that with more investment in technological infrastructure and digital skills, it can continue to modernize itself and the country.

The launch was made by the Head of Public Service Mr Tony Sultana, during the opening of the first edition of The Public Service Expo. This event served as a gathering for all the Public Administration under one roof, with the Expo being a showcase of the best digital tools that the Public Service makes use of in every sector and area of life.

The Principal Permanent Secretary said that the modernization the Public Service is going through does not stop with technology, as it is also a matter of mentality, with the introduction of new practices, more relevant procedures, and innovative tools among others.

While addressing the heads of the Public Administration, Mr Sultana explained his vision of one public administration for one people, which does not distinguish between departments, agencies and entities, but is based on ambition to achieve greater results.

"Only this way will we be able to look forward and continue to modernize this country," concluded the Principal Permanent Secretary.

The Public Service Expo, actually, the first EXPO of its kind was held at the MFCC Ta' Qali and featured some of the most intelligent systems that are used on a daily basis in the Public Service. These included systems that facilitate local permits, benefits and social security, personal healthcare, application processing and parking systems among others.

The general public was able to see digital systems of unique interest, including bomb disposal robot, digital kitchen, holograms of statues, passport system identifier, 3D Costume Scanning, various robots, eSports simulators and digital scanning of notarial archives as well.

Digital systems that assist the country on a national scale were also exhibited, including the Emergency Management Control Centre, Air Traffic Demos, the dashboard of the Malta Stock Exchange, a medicine testing laboratory, and the digital system which operates the Tritoni fountain among others.

Other exhibits presented digital tools used in diplomacy, in agriculture and natural resources, various virtual realities and virtual tours of attractions of interest. The Public Service EXPO 2023 was open from the 10th to the 12th of May.

This year's conference and expo was an opportunity for visitors to immerse in an experience combining new ideas, techniques, and strategies to elevate the place of work to the next level.

A fantastic line-up of speakers and panellists shared their insights, best practices, and practical solutions to the challenges faced every day. On the expo floor, one also had the chance to network with their peers, connect with industry leaders and gain valuable knowledge with the aim to help drive change and achieve goals.

Engaging stands and demos, spontaneous workshops, and interactive activities kept the audience motivated throughout the three days.

The Public Service launched its new identity, with the vision that with more investment in technological infrastructure and digital skills it can continue to modernize itself and the country.

The launch was made by the Head of Public Service Tony Sultana, during the opening of the first edition of The Public Service Expo. This event served as gathering of all the Public Administration under one roof, with the Expo being a showcase of the best digital tools that the Public Service makes use of in every sector and area of life.

While addressing the heads of the Public Administration, Mr Sultana explained his vision of one public administration for one people, which does not distinguish between departments, agencies and entities, but is based on ambition to achieve greater results.

"Only this way will we be able to look forward and continue to modernize this country," concluded the Principal Permanent Secretary.

Amongst other displays, the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights was also present with an in-house team who assisted the general public in any questions and queries they had. In the photo below are Ms Helena Holland, Ġemma Team Leader and Ms Daniela Xuereb, Manager along with Mr Archibald Attard and Mr Peter Miceli Saydon whom represents both Ġemma as well as the Events & Communications Office.

Jum l-Omm u

Jum il-Missier

Doris Zammit

Xandara u Kittieba

Għeżież qarrejja,

Meta tiġi f’idejkom din ir-rivista, Jum l-Omm ikun għadda, madankollu xtaqt naqsam magħkom xi ftit ħsibijiet bħala messaġġ lil uliedna għal din is-sena.

Messaġġ lil uliedi f’Jum l-Omm 2023

Xi darba ngħidilkom għeżież uliedi x’jimmotiva lill-ġenituri...

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex indejjaqkom biex tgħiduli fejn sejrin, ma’ min u fi x’ħin se terġgħu lura d-dar.

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex ninkwieta dwar saħħitkom.

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex inkun protettiva żżejjed.

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex ma nġibx skużi għall-manjieri ħżiena tagħkom jew nuqqas ta’ rispett.

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex nagħżel li nkun l-aħħar, kull jum.

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex ninjora dak li kienu jagħmlu ġenituri oħra.

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex inħallikom titfixklu, taqgħu u ma tirnexxux, biex titgħallmu tieqfu weħidkom. Imma l-aktar...,

Kont inħobbkom biżżejjed biex nirriskja li intom tobogħduni għad-deċiżjonijiet li ħadt bit-tama li kont qed nagħmel dak l-aktar tajjeb għalikom, dik kienet l-aktar parti diffiċli minn kollox.

Inħobbkom għeżież uliedi.

Jum il-Missier

Li nagħtu unur lill-missirijiet huwa kunċett li jmur lura sal-għeruq taċ-ċivilizzazzjoni. Imma dil-ġurnata fejn missirijietna jħossu li huma speċjali hija aktar reċenti... għall-anqas fl-Istati Uniti. U filwaqt li Jum l-Omm ġiet stabbilita uffiċjalment fl-1914 u ċċelebrata kważi mad-dinja kollha anke qabel din id-data, Jum il-Missier ma ntlaqgħax bl-istess fervur u entużjażmu. Ħafna jaħsbu li din il-btala uffiċjali ġiet imwaqqfa wara r-reazzjoni ta’ Jum l-Omm, din il-btala sentimentali għandha aktar storja twila u ħafna kurżitajiet.

Jum il-Missier kellu jterraq 64 sena biex finalment ikun uffiċjalment magħruf. Fil-fatt, kellha tkun il-kampanja għall-elezzjoni fejn l-Amerika reġgħet tellgħet lill-president Nixon, biex din il-ġurnata ġiet uffiċjalment proklamata fl-1972 u fl-Amerika saret btala pubblika, fejn tiġi ċċelebrata b’ħafna ikel u xorb, rigali u ħin speċjali mal-missirijiet. Intant illum xtaqt naqsam magħkom uħud mill-ħafna kurżitajiet dwar Jum il-Missier madwar id-dinja li mhux żgur tafu dwarhom.

F’Lulju tas-sena 1908, knisja fil-West Virginia organizzat l-ewwel avveniment nazzjonali dedikat b’mod esklussiv għall-missirijiet. Waqt il-prietka tal-Ħadd, 362 raġel li kienu mietu fi splużjoni fil-minjiera tal-faħam f’Monongah ġew onorati f’din il-kommemorazzjoni.

Sena wara l-Amerikana, is-Sinjura Sonora Smart Dodd, waħda minn sitt itfal li kienet imrobbija minn missierha armel, ippruvat tonora lil missierha. Is-suċċess għaliha wasal meta l-Istat ta’ Washington, iċċelebra l-ewwel Jum il-Missier nhar id-19 ta’ Ġunju, 1910.

Kuntrarju għal Jum l-Omm, l-ewwel Jum il-Missier ma tantx intlaqa’ tajjeb, anzi tgħidx kemm kien hemm min daħak bihom. Din il-ġurnata kienet il-mira ta’ ħafna żufjett u waqqgħuha għaċ-ċajt anke f’diversi ġurnali lokali.

It-triq biex tiġi dikjarata nazzjonalment damet ittul aktar minn 60 sena. L-ewwel president Amerikan li appoġġja l-kunċett ta’ Jum il-Missier kien il-President Calvin Coolidge, fis-sena 1924, imma ma kienx qabel is-sena 1966 li l-President Lyndon B.Johnson iffirma proklamazzjoni presidenzjali li rriżultat f’dikjarazzjoni fejn it-tielet Ħadd ta’ Ġunju sar Jum il-Missier, għalkemm ma kinitx għadha saret btala nazzjonali permanenti.

L-ewwel kartolina għal Jum il-Missier tmur lura ħafna aktar minn dawk ta’ Hallmark, mill-anqas 4,000 sena. Elmesu, żagħżugħ Babilonjan skolpixxa kartolina fit-tafal, biex “jixtieq lil missieru s-saħħa u għomor twil.”

Skont id-ditta Hallmark, id-ditta li tipproduċi kartolini ta’ kull xorta, Jum il-Missier hija l-ħames l-aktar btala li fiha jinbiegħu kartolini wara l-Milied, Jum San Valentinu u Jum l-Omm. ’Il fuq minn 72 miljun kartolina jintbagħtu f’din il-ġurnata speċjali.

Jum il-Missier huwa ċelebrat fit-tielet Ħadd ta’ Ġunju f’diversi pajjiżi madwar id-dinja, fosthom in-Nederlands, l-Indja, l-Ingilterra u anke f’Malta. Hemm ukoll iżda diversi pajjiżi Kristjani, bħal Spanja, Portugal u l-Italja li jiċċelebraw lil missirijiethom nhar il-festa ta’ San Ġużepp fid-19 ta’ Marzu.

Jum il-Missier jiġi ċċelebrat differenti f’diversi partijiet tad-dinja. Hekk ngħidu aħna fil-Ġermanja, il-Mannertag jew aħjar Jum l-Irġiel, huwa ċċelebrat billi l-irġiel jiskru sakra birra u jiffangaw bl-ikel reġjonali. Minħabba f’dan, matul dik il-ġurnata l-pulizija u s-servizzi tal-emerġenza jkunu fuq alert massimu l-ġurnata kollha.

Konna naħsbu li nagħtu l-fjuri lill-ommijiet biss! Uffiċjalment il-fjura uffiċjali għal Jum il-Missier hija l-warda. Warda ħamra fuq il-pavru tfisser li l-missier għadu ħaj, filwaqt li warda bajda tirrappreżenta li l-missier mejjet.

Inċidentalment, il-papoċċ tas-sodda bħala rigal mhuwiex l-aktar rigal popolari f’Jum il-Missier imma hija l-ingravata.

Ir-rekord mondjali uffiċjali ta’ dak li kellu l-akbar numru ta’ tfal huwa ta’ 69 mill-ewwel mara ta’ Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782), bidwi minn Moskow. L-ewwel mara tiegħu welldet 16-il par twins, seba’ settijiet ta’ triplets u erba’ settijiet ta’ quadruplets. Minn jaf x’ġenn kien ikollhom waqt l-ikel!

Fit-Tajlandja, Jum il-Missier jitfakkar f’għeluq iż-żmien ir-re. Bħalissa r-Re Vajiralongkorn

(Rama X) jagħlaq żmienu fit-28 ta’ Lulju.

It-Tajlandiżi jiċċelebraw din il-ġurnata billi jagħtu lil missierhom jew lin-nannu l-fjura

Canna (Dok put ta ruk sa) li hija kkunsidrata bħala fjura maskili.

Jum il-Missier huwa jum speċjali wkoll, anke għal dawk il-missirijiet li jrabbu lil uliedhom waħidhom, fenomenu li kulma jmur qed jiżdied minn sena għal oħra. Infatti fl-2017, kien hemm aktar minn 2 miljun familji mmexxija minn missier waħdu, 900 fil-mija żieda mill-1960 ’l hawn.

Jista’ jkun hemm miljun raġuni għalxiex ngħidu “grazzi” lil xi ħadd speċjali daqs missierna. U għalkemm ma ngħiduhiex spiss daqskemm suppost, din il-ġurnata dedikata lill-missirijiet tagħtina l-opportunità biex ngħaddu lill-missirijietna dak it-tifħir li jistħoqqilhom għad-dedikazzjoni u l-impenn tagħhom u ta’ kemm jieħdu ħsiebna.

Grazzi u l-ġurnata t-tajba lil missirijiet kollha. Lil missieri u lill-kunjatu ngħidilhom grazzi. Sakemm nerġgħu niltaqgħu, il-festa t-tajba.

DSS & ISCD Day Event mill-gżira t’Għawdex

67 Sena mit-twaqqif tas-Sigurtà Soċjali f’pajjiżna

Tonio Bonello

Ta’ kull sena fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Politika Soċjali u d-Drittijiet tat-Tfal ikun organizzat id-DSS Month. L-oriġini tiegħu jafha bħala DSS Day li aktar tard inbidlet f’DSS Week u issa DSS Month.

Din hi attività partikolarment iffukata biex tikkommemora l-jum li fih il-Parlament Malti kien approva l-Liġi dwar is-Sigurtà Soċjali. Din is-sena qed ikun imfakkar għeluq is-67 sena minn dan l-avveniment tant importanti f’pajjiżna.

Aspett differenti minn snin oħra kien li din is-sena l-attività kienet imnedija fil-gżira t’Għawdex biex hekk l-Għawdxin li soltu jinżlu Malta għal dan il-jum, din is-sena kellhom l-opportunità biex din saret f’arthom.

Ħaġa oħra interessanti kienet l-attendenza rekord li attendiet, ’il fuq minn 260 persuna impjegati tal-Ministeru. L-attività li saret fil-limiti taż-Żebbuġ u Marsalforn, Għawdex setgħet tkun possibbli grazzi għal ħidma li saret minn Peter Miceli Saydon u Archibald Attard mill-Events and Communications Office b’kollaborazzjoni mat-tim tal-IMU.

L-attività bdiet b’diskors mill-Onor. Ministru Michael Falzon li ma setax jattendi peress li kien jinsab fuq ħidma barra minn Malta iżda li dawk li attendew setgħu jsegwu d-diskors tiegħu permezz ta’ filmat li sar ftit jiem qabel.

Wara tkellmu s-sinjuri Grazio Barbara, id-Direttur Ġenerali tad-DSS, Raymond Chetcuti, Direttur Ġenerali Income Support and Compliance Division, Petra Ellul Mercer mit-tim ĠEMMA, Dr Joseph Azzopardi li kien bħala mistieden speċjali, kif ukoll is-Sur Mark Musù, is-Segretarju Permanenti tal-Ministeru.

Is-Sur Barbara beda biex qal li Mejju llum il-ġurnata sar xahar b’sinifikat għal dan il-Ministeru għaliex fih ikun imfakkar l-Anniversarju mill-introduzzjoni tas-Sigurtà Soċjali f’Malta. Kompla kif bħalissa għaddejja ħidma biex id-Dipartiment kollu jkun elevat permezz ta’ Quality Service Charter.

B’sodisfazzjon fakkar kif l-International Relations Unit fi ħdan il-Ministeru diġà waslet biex kisbet dan l-ogħla livell ta’ standards.

Spjega wkoll dwar l-ipproċessar taċ-ċertifikati mediċi u qal li l-metodu l-ġdid kif persuna tirraporta li hi indisposta permezz tas-sit elettroniku u mhux aktar bil-posta, sar popolari sew mal-pubbliku Malti u Għawdxi.

Fi żmien fejn it-teknoloġija qed tidħol aktar fi djarna semma kif il-korrispondenza kollha tad-Dipartiment maż-żmien trid tasal sal-punt li l-komunikazzjoni bejnu u l-pubbliku ma tibqax aktar bil-posta iżda bil-posta elettronika (l-email). Temm jgħid li sal-lum 98% tal-pensjonanti diġà qed jitallsu bis-sistema ta’ Direct Credit.

Is-Sur Chetcuti spjega kif minn wara l-pandemija tal-Covid-19 ’l hawn, sal-lum id-Dipartiment diġà għandu 9,500 file virtwali li qed jgħinu ħafna, kemm fl-effiċjenza tal-ipproċessar tax-xogħol, però wkoll għax qed joħolqu aktar spazju fiżiku fejn bniedem jista’ jaħdem.

F’dan il-kuntest kompla kif permezz tas-sistema li nħolqot tal-API’s, it-tagħrif li jkun meħtieġ issa qed jasal mill-ewwel elettronikament u mhux aktar bil-files. Ta’ dan hu rringrazzja lill-MITA u l-IMU tas-sapport kontinwu tagħhom. Sostna kif bħalissa qed isiru reviews ta’ 5,000 dokument permezz tal-API.

Tkellem dwar il-Benefits Compliance Unit fejn qal li grazzi għar-rapporti li jsiru mill-pubbliku biex isiru investigazzjonijiet, fl-2020 kienu frankati €3.9 miljun waqt li s-sena l-oħra, fl-2022, din iċ-ċifra telgħet għal €4.9 miljun.

Fi tmiem id-diskors tiegħu, is-Sur Chetcuti sellem lil dawk preżenti u fisser li din qed tkun l-aħħar darba li qed jindirizzahom qabel m’hu se jkun qed jirtira bl-età fiż-żmien li ġej. Temm ifaħħar il-ħidma u l-koperazzjoni li sab dejjem u minn kulħadd u rringrazzja lil dawk kollha li preżenti li għoġobhom jattendu għal din l-attività.

Petra Ellul Mercer mit-tim ĠEMMA issa sempliċiment jippreżenta card u jittieħdu l-flus mill-bank. Hekk sar aktar faċli biex dak li jkun jaqbad u jonfoq.

Kien imiss li titkellem is-Sa Petra Ellul Mercer mill-Kampanja Nazzjonali ĠEMMA li saħqet dwar l-importanza tal-infiq kawt fost is-soċjetà. Spjegat kif ĠEMMA għal dawn l-aħħar snin ħadmet biex twassal dan il-messaġġ f’kull saff tas-soċjetà, fosthom it-tfal żgħar, l-għalliema, il-pensjonanti, u issa wkoll anke persuni vulnerabbli. Tenniet li sfortunatament għad hawn ħafna nies li ma jafux kif jużaw il-flus sewwa.

Semmiet id-differenzi bejn il-prodotti u bejn il-prezzijiet fejn xi drabi persuna m’għadhiex tivvalurizza Sale għax forsi ma jkunx jagħmel differenza kbira fil-prezz, iżda li meta tqis Sale ta’ numri ta’ prodotti diversi u minn diversi ħwienet, id-differenza monetarja ma tibqax ftit u ta’ min iqis sew qabel ma jaqbad u jixtri.

Lecturer fl-Università ta’ Malta

Il-kelliema żiedet tgħid li l-infiq sar impulsiv fejn il-bniedem sar ma jaħsibhiex darbtejn biex jixtri u jonfoq, speċjalment bil-metodi ta’ ħlasijiet ġodda fejn flok kif kien qabel, kien ikollu fiżikament joħroġ il-karti tal-flus mill-kartiera,

Dr Azzopardi kien il-mistieden speċjali ta’ din l-attività u t-tema li ppreżenta lill-udjenza kienet titratta Standards of Conduct in Organizational Management & Leadership. Fost l-oħrajn spjega kif fil-kuntest ta’ Standards of Conduct hemm dak li jissejjaħ Authentic Leadership li dan hu bbażat fuq tliet pilastri ewlenin, jiġifieri; Il-Verità, Il-Fiduċja u r-Rispett. Permezz tagħhom titkejjel il-lealtà u l-kredibilità bejn persuna u oħra, partikolarment fil-komunikazzjoni ta’ bejniethom u fi kwalunkwe negozji u/jew ftehimiet oħra li jistgħu jirriżultaw minnhom rispettivament.

Tkellem ukoll dwar il-kunċett ta’ ‘Knowledge is Power’, fejn il-bniedem aktar ma jeduka ruħu u jikseb għarfien, aktar ikollu ħiliet u kapaċitajiet dwar kif jimxi u jirreaġixxi f’kull sitwazzjoni li tippreżentalu l-ħajja.

Minn hawn, nixtieq inwassal kelmtejn ta’ ħajr u apprezzament lil Dr Joseph Azzopardi tal-preżentazzjoni eċċellenti li wassal u li bla dubju kienet ta’ għarfien utili għal dawk kollha li attendew. Prosit mill-ġdid.

Is-Sur Mark Musù

Is-Segretarju Permanenti

Is-Sur Musù tkellem dwar is-sinifikat ta’ din l-okkażjoni u ta’ dawn is-67 sena fejn pajjiżna kompla jimxi ’l quddiem bla ma qatt ħares lura fejn permezz tal-liġi dwar is-sigurtà soċjali, il-pubbliku Malti u Għawdxi kompla jagħmel avvanzi kbar fil-kwalità tal-ħajja tiegħu.

Tenna li minkejja dan, dejjem ikun għad fadal xi jsir u sostna li waqt li rridu nkomplu ninbidlu maż-żmenijiet, iżda dan ma jfissirx li għandna narmu l-passat, anzi għandna narawh bħala sors biex nitgħallmu minnu u nkomplu niżviluppaw.

L-attività ġiet fi tmiem b’ikla fost dawk li attendew f’atmosfera ta’ divertiment li provdiet apposta band lokali popolari.

Ritratti: Harry Hudson

Big salaries, no wealth: some high earners are struggling to manage their funds

“We wrongly assume that only ‘poor’ people have money management issues but high earners also struggle with it, and they are astonished to learn that when they were poorer, they were actually richer.”

Professionals in business, real estate, gaming, lawyers and lecturers, for instance, are among the high earners who struggle, Caruana said. When they realise they have suddenly become richer and they can now afford to buy stuff that they previously only dreamt about, they sometimes gorge on unsustainable shopping sprees of items worth thousands of euros.

Mark Laurence Zammit Journalist, The Times of

on

Professionals are among the people struggling.

Some high earners are struggling to make ends meet at the end of the month, according to an internationally certified money coach. There is a widespread misconception that the more money someone makes, the richer they become but, Luca Caruana told Times of Malta, he works with clients who became ‘poor’ specifically when they became ‘rich’. They only ran out of money in their bank accounts and started accumulating credit card debts when their salary bumped up significantly.

“I have met people who changed jobs or got a huge promotion and their salary went from €30,000 to upward of €60,000 or even €80,000.

"When their salary was still relatively low, they would manage their money quite well but when they suddenly became richer they did not know what to do with the money and some of them ended up running out of it before they knew it,” he said.

“When they see their bank accounts swelling up, they sometimes forget where to stop or when and where to save or invest some of the money. Consequently, they accumulate more credit card debts, buy more stuff they don’t need and become more financially strained than when they had a lower income,” he said. Some of them, he continued, start going to frequent expensive dinners and trips and buying high-end luxury cars and items, such as watches worth tens of thousands of euros.

“A fatter bank account often subconsciously convinces you that you are earning more money because you worked hard for it, so you deserve it.

"So, when you see the latest smartphone on display, you’re more likely to buy it straightaway because you feel you deserve it, whereas when you earned less you would have been fine with waiting another year before buying it.”

Luca Caruana: "It's still a taboo for high earners to admit to financial difficulties."

When they realise they are running out of money, they often spend longer hours at work or take up a second job, just so that they are able to maintain their new lifestyle, Caruana explained.

That only makes things worse because it adds pressure and does not solve the money management issue.

What is worse is that when the ‘rich’ life becomes too much to bear, it is often impossible for these people to return to their old jobs or lifestyles because by then they will have committed themselves to huge loans and they become unable to take up jobs which pay less. So, they are trapped in a vicious cycle.

Caruana, who provides financial coaching services, spoke to Times of Malta a few days after the education and family ministers launched a series of financial education courses for adults as part of the campaign Ġemma (Save money), aimed at creating public awareness and education on money management.

Furthermore, the latest available figures from an international study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Network on Financial Education (INFE) revealed that, in 2020, Malta was among the countries having the poorest financial literacy.

'Knowing how to make money not the same as knowing how to keep it'

Caruana said the government initiative is essential and the latest statistics go to show to what extent the educational system failed to instil financial literacy in students. But he also warned that some high earners with money management issues would likely not attend such courses because they are overwhelmed with money shame.

“It’s still such a great taboo for high earners to admit to having financial difficulties to a group of other adults. They had the money and lost it, whereas low-income earners did not have the money to spend in the first place. And, in their view, their failure is more shameful,” he explained, adding that they fear being labelled, just like with mental health. There is another misconception, he pointed out.

There are people who are naturally gifted and possess a great ability to make money. These people will make money out of almost anything, and, consequently, become very rich very quickly.

“But knowing how to make money is not the same as knowing how to keep it,” Caruana cautioned.

“Some people who have a great ability to make money also have a great inability to manage it and they frequently spend it irresponsibly or even all at once.” It often boils down to psychological factors that stem from childhood experiences, he explained. If your parents had been lowincome earners and were very cautious and disciplined with money, you will likely either mirror that behaviour when you get a salary bump or you will rebel against it and spend beyond your means.

CREDIT : This article was published in The Times of Malta of Saturday 15th April 2023. Many thanks to the author, Mark Laurence Zammit (Journalist) and to the Times of Malta for their permission for us to be able to include this valuable article in Rivista FAMILJA. .

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