NATIONAL SKILLS COUNCIL (ESTABLISHMENT) ORDER

NATIONAL SKILLS COUNCIL (ESTABLISHMENT)

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 605.10

NATIONAL SKILLS COUNCIL (ESTABLISHMENT)

ORDER

9th August, 2016

LEGAL NOTICE 278 of 2016, as amended by Act XXIX of 2019 and

Legal Notice 320 of 2022.

The title of this Order is the National Skills Council

(Establishment) Order.

For the purposes of this Order, unless the context otherwise

requires -

"the Act" means the Education Act;

"the Council" shall mean the National Skills Council established

by virtue of this Order;

"lifelong learning" has the same meaning assigned to it by article

63 of the Act;

"the Minister" means the Minister responsible for education.

The objects of this Order is to establish the National Skills

Council.

There shall be a Council, to be known as the National Skills

Council, which shall be autonomous and which shall carry out

functions related to labour market preparation and skills and shall

serve as a main driver in these fields.

The affairs and activities of the Council shall be under the

direction of the Board and shall be dealt with by the members of the

Board and for this purpose shall be represented by the Chairperson

who shall be able to speak and act on its behalf.

The functions of the Council shall be to

(a) involve representatives of the labour market in the

planning of labour market preparation;

(b) study, propose and plan strategies and training to

reduce shortages in labour skills, improve skills and

meet market demands;

(c) involve stakeholders in the setting of strategic

direction of relevant education and training;

(d) liaise with educational institutions;

(e) perform any other function as may be assigned to it by

the Minister.

(1) The Council shall be governed by a Board composed of

not less than eleven and not more than thirteen members to be

nominated by the Minister and appointed by the Prime Minister for

NATIONAL SKILLS COUNCIL (ESTABLISHMENT)

a period of three years and the members shall be eligible to be re-

appointed after their term of office expires.

(2) The Prime Minister, upon recommendation of the Minister,

shall appoint from among the members a Chairperson and a Deputy

Chairperson.

(3) The members of the Board shall include the following

members

(a) a representative appointed by the University of Malta;

(b) a representative appointed by the Malta College for

Arts, Science and Technology;

(c) a representative

appointed

by

the

Jobsplus

Corporation;

(d) a representative appointed by the Institute for Tourism

Studies;

(e) a representative appointed by the Malta Chamber of

Commerce, Enterprise and Industry;

(f)

a representative appointed by the Malta Enterprise;

(g) a representative of civil society;

(h) a representative from amongst lifelong learning

specialists;

(i)

the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Education;

(j)

a maximum of four persons who, in the opinion of the

Minister, possess leadership qualities, and have an

understanding of education and the labour market

within the context of an open, democratic, fair,

prosperous and inclusive society.

(1) The Council may invite ad hoc experts to sit on the

Council when discussing specific issues.

(2) These experts shall only attend upon request and shall not

be considered as members of the Council.

(1) A member of the Council may at any time be removed

from office by the Prime Minister on the grounds of inability to

perform the functions of his office as required, either because of

mental or physical illness, or for any other reason due to which the

member would no longer be fit to occupy such office or due to bad

conduct.

(2) A member of the Board may resign from his office through

a letter addressed to the Prime Minister. If any member tenders his

resignation or is removed from his office by the Prime Minister or

should the office of any member of the Board become in any

manner vacant, the Prime Minister, upon recommendation of the

Minister, may appoint a qualified person to take up this post and

any person who is so appointed shall keep on occupying that post

up to the termination of the term of office of the person being so

substituted and such person shall be eligible to be reappointed.

(3)

Any absence or vacancy among the members of the Board

NATIONAL SKILLS COUNCIL (ESTABLISHMENT)

or any participation in its meetings by any person who is not

entitled to such act, shall not invalidate the procedures of the

Board, insofar as there is a quorum of not less than one-half of the

number of members of the Board plus one.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Order and of any

regulations made under the Act, the Board shall generally regulate

its own procedures.

(5) The Minister may make regulations regarding the

proced ures to b e ad opt ed by th e Bo ard i n t he cou rse of it s

operations.

The Council shall have its own budget and shall regulate its

own procedure.

The Council shall, two months before the start of the

business year present the Minister with an annual work plan.

The Council shall compile and send to the Minister an

annual report not later than six weeks from the start of the business

year, on its activities during that year.

(1) The Council shall meet at least once every two months

or as necessary.

(2)

Meetings shall be convened by the Chairperson.

The Minister shall appoint a secretary to keep minutes and a

record of the meetings.

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Public Administration

Act and of any other legislation, the Council shall have the

authority to engage its own employees.

(2) All public officers engaged with the public service and who

were detailed with the Council shall be deemed to be employees of the

said Council under the same terms and conditions prevailing on the

date of engagement with the Council.