The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, on behalf of the 2000+ VO’s enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, said that it will be asking the Legislator “to suspend the two regulations with immediate effect on Public Collections and Charity Shops Regulations, receive the Council Report and initiate consultation in its true meaning to address concerns raised by the Voluntary Sector in recognition of the sterling work they undertake in the various aspects of life in our community.”

The Council said it will then present the report to the Parliamentary Secretary for Sports, Recreation and Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima, in the coming hours.

This was announced today during a virtual press conference on the ‘MCVS position on the Impact of the Public Collections and Charity Shops Regulations on Voluntary Organisations,’ which was addressed by Dr. Noel Camilleri, Chairperson MCVS, and Mr. Robert Farrugia, Deputy Chairperson MCVS.

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, said that it needs to be consulted by policy makers and authorities on issues affecting the Voluntary Sector as established in the National Strategy for Volunteering signed with the Government and committing all public entities.

The Council explained that the Strategy stresses that there should be “(a) opportunities for ongoing discussion between Voluntary Organisations and the interests of volunteering and Government Departments to foster early understanding and involvement in the development of politics” and that there are “(b) consultation arrangements that normally allow adequate time for wider consultation with networks and service users.”

“It was unfortunate that the Council was presented with the proposed regulations days prior to their being tabled in Parliament where it requested that these are withheld, and consultation undertaken,” it said.

In this brief period the Council stressed that it could not initiate any level of real consultation with the Sector, which consultation would have supported the Council’s position on its proposals for amendments.

In this respect the Council issued a statement informing the Sector of the situation. Please click here to read the statement in English and Maltese issued last July.

Therefore, in the absence of consultation on the two regulations, the Council said that it took the initiative to initiate the discussion with the Voluntary Organisations requesting their feedback on the same regulations and facilitating replies to their queries by the Office of the Commissioner for VOs.

Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector conference from earlier today can be viewed by clicking here.

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