History
Brief History leading to the Formation of the Malta Employers’ Association
The MALTA EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION was formed on December 1st 1965 following the amalgamation of the ASSOCIATION OF EMPLOYERS and the MALTA EMPLOYERS’ CONFEDERATION.
Union / Association Of Employers
On the initiative of Dr Joseph J. Cassar Galea, a Meeting was convened on March 1st 1958 at Palazzo Caraffa, Old Bakery Street, Valletta, at which a number of persons attended in order to set up a union of employers.
The Meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of Dr Cassar Galea, agreed to form a Commission from among persons present, whose terms of reference were to complete the Statute of the proposed Union.
The following were appointed Members of the Commission:
Dr Maurice Agius Vadala
Mr Edward C. Arrigo
Mr George C. Camilleri
Mr Victor Camilleri
Dr Joseph Cassar Galea
Mr Ciantar
Mr Alfred Hili
Mr Guido Laferla
Mr Salv. Mallia Pulverenti
Mr Aurelio Mea
Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia
Mr Paul Vella
The Commission met on two occasions at the Malta Chamber of Commerce and duly completed its work on the draft Statute.
The UNION OF EMPLOYERS was officially founded on March 17th 1958 at a General Meeting again held at Palazzo Caraffa, when the Statute was approved and the first Council and Officers were appointed.
Mr George E. Camilleri was elected President, but for personal reasons did not accept and at a subsequent General Meeting held a week later on March 25th 1958, Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia was unanimously acclaimed President.
The other Members elected to Council were:
Mr Aurelio Mea – Vice-President
Mr Salv. Mallia Pulverenti – Hon Secretary
Mr Carmel Falzon – Hon Treasurer
Mr Edward C. Arrigo – Member
Mr Carmel Bajada – Member
Mr George C. Camilleri – Member
Mr Victor Camilleri – Member
Mr Paul Vella – Member
Mr Guido Laferla was appointed Permanent Secretary
The Union was officially registered with the Director of Labour as a union of employers in 1959/1960 when Mr A. Zammit Tabona was President.
At the Annual General Meeting held on February 17th 1960 the Union amended parts of the Statute and changed its name to the ASOCIATION OF EMPLOYERS and registered the new name and amended rules with the Director of Labour on March 15th 1960.
The following gentlemen served as Presidents of the Union (later Association) of Employers until the Malta Employers’ Association was formed on December 1st 1965:
Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia (1958/1959)
Mr Anthony Zammit Tabona (1959/1961)
Mr Frank Diss (1961/1962)
Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia (1962/1963)
Major A.J. Calascione (1963)
Mr Anthony Zammit Tabona (1963/1965)
Major A.J. Calascione (1965)
Malta Employers’ Confederation
The MALTA EMPLOYERS’ CONFEDERATION was officially founded on June 24th 1960 at a meeting held for the purpose at 292/7 Kingsway, Valletta, on the initiative and under the sponsorship of the Association of Employers and under the chairmanship of Mr Anthony Zammit Tabona. Besides the Association, a number of individual British Companies operating in Malta at the time also became members of the Confederation.
The persons present at this Meeting included:
Representatives of the Association of Employers
Mr Anthony Zammit Tabona – President
Mr Aurelio Mea – Vice-President
Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia – Hon Secretary
Mr J.R. Mason – Hon Treasurer
Mr Frank Diss – Member
Dr Edgar Mizzi – Legal Advisor
A Representative of the Shell Company (Malta) Ltd
Mr D. Weller – Acting General Manager
Representatives of BP Malta Ltd
Mr J.D. R. Bethal – General Manager
Mr R.L. Bugge – Deputy General Manager
A Representative of the Malta Tobacco Company Limited
Mr D.O. Seymour – General Manager
A Representative of ESSO Standard (Malta) Limited
Dr R.A. Staines – General Manager
A Representative of NAAFI (as observer)
Mr R. Barnes
A Representative of Turquant Youngs & Co (as observer)
Mr J. Dunkerv
At a subsequent Council Meeting held on July 7th 1960 Mr Frank Diss was elected President.
The other Officers elected to Council were
Mr D. Weller – Vice-President
Mr R.L. Bugge – Hon Secretary
Mr D.O. Seymour – Hon Treasurer
Mr Walter J. Bonavia, who at the time was Permanent Secretary of the Association of Employers, was also appointed Permanent Secretary of the Confederation.
Although the Confederation operated as a separate Association, joint Council Meetings were held regularly between the Confederation and the Association of Employers at which members of both Councils were present.
The following gentlemen served as Presidents of the Confederation until the Malta Employers’ Association was formed on December 1st 1965.
Mr Frank Diss (1960/1963)
Major A.J. Calascione (1963/1965)
Mr N.S. Thompson (1965)
Amalgamation of the Association and Confederation
On the initiative of the Association of Employers, the respective Councils of the Association and the Confederation agreed to amalgamate both Bodies and form the Malta Employers’ Association.
Separate General Meetings were duly convened by the respective Associations.
At a Special General Meeting held at South Street, Valletta, on November 26th 1965 the Confederation RESOLVED:
Merging of MEC and AE
that the Malta Employers’ Confederation and the Association of Employers be merged into one organisation to be known as the MALTA EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION be and is hereby approved.
MEC Constitution and Rules
that the proposed Constitution and Rules of the Malta Employers’ Association, a copy of which is now produced to the Meeting, be and they are hereby adopted.
It was recommended that a few amendments suggested at the meeting and noted by the Secretary-General be passed to the Association of Employers for consideration at their Extraordinary General Meeting.
Winding Up of MEC
that the winding up of the Malta Employers’ Confederation be and is hereby approved as from 30th November 1965, inclusive.
MEC Assets and Liabilities
that the assets and liabilities of the Malta Employers’ Confederation be and are hereby transferred to the funds of the Malta Employers’ Association as part of the terms of the merging of the two organisations.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting held at South Street, Valletta, on December 1st 1965 the Association RESOLVED:
Merging of AE and MEC
that the Association of Employers and the Malta Employers’ Confederation be merged into one organisation to be known as the Malta Employers’ Association. The Resolution was proposed by Mr A. Zammit Tabona and seconded by Mr A. Miceli Farrugia and was carried unanimously.
Revised Constitution and Rules
that the Constitution and Rules of the Malta Employers’ Association, a copy of which in now proposed to the Meeting, be adopted. The Resolution was proposed by Mr A. Miceli Farrugia and seconded by Mr C. Camilleri and was carried unanimously.
Malta Employers’ Association
The MALTA EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION held its first Council meeting on December 20th 1965 under the chairmanship of Major A.J. Calascione, previously President of the Association of Employers.
The gentlemen forming the Council of the Association of Employers constituted the first Council of the Malta Employers’ Association, together with the President and one other member of the Malta Employers’ Confederation.
The first Council, which remained in office until the first Annual General Meeting held on February 18th 1966, was constituted as follows:
Major A.J. Calascione – President
Mr A. Zammit Tabona – Vice-President
Mr G.E. Camilleri – Hon Treasurer
Mr A.J. Bajada – Member
Mr J.N. Cassar – Member
Mr J. Gasan – Member
Mr A. Mea – Member
Mr A. Miceli Farrugia – Member
Mr N.S. Thompson – Member
Mr F.G. Wilson – Member
The following served as Presidents of the Malta Employers’ Association to date:
Major A.J. Calascione 1965 – 1966
Mr Anthony Zammit Tabona 1966 – 1968
Mr Alfred Salomone 1968 – 1970
Mr Alfred Miceli Farrugia 1970 – 1971
Mr G.E. Camilleri 1971 – 1973
Mr E.T.C. Calascione 1973 – 1975
Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia 1975 – 1977
Mr Joseph Caruana Curran 1977 – 1979
Mr Anthony Miceli Farrugia 1979 – 1981
Mr Michael J. Mallia 1981 – 1984
Mr Ronald A. Agius 1984 – 1986
Mr Michael J. Mallia 1986 – 1988
Mr Victor Scicluna 1988 – 1990
Mr Michael J. Mallia 1990 – 1991
Mr Tonio Portughese 1991 – 1993
Mr Franco Masini 1993 – 1995
Mr John E. Sullivan 1995 – 1998
Mr Victor Scicluna 1998 – 2001
Mr Joseph Delia 2001 – 2003
Dr Paul De Battista 2003 – 2004
Mr Arthur Muscat 2004 – 2006
Mr Pierre Fava 2006 – 2011
Mr Joshua Zammit 2011 – 2013
Mr Arthur Muscat 2013 – 2017
Ms Dolores Sammut Bonnici 2017 – 2021
Ms Joanne Bondin 2021
