Alexia Frendo lays out agenda for Malta Employers Association council membership

In April, Alexia Frendo was informed that she had been co-opted as a council member for the Malta Employers Association (MEA), making her the first member of the iGaming community to gain representation on the organisation.

She was nominated to the council by members of iGaming NEXT's HR Forum, HR Connect, which was initially launched as a network of HR professionals in the iGaming industry, but now aims to grow into a valuable networking tool "well beyond the industry itself".

A Human Resources veteran with over 15 years of iGaming industry experience currently serving as Lead Human Resources Business Partner at Kindred Group, Ms Frendo sat down with iGamingCapital.mt to discuss the implications of her appointment, and what she hopes to bring to the agenda of Malta's leading organisation which primarily endeavours to regulate the relations between employers, workers and trade unions.

To begin, asked what benefits her position on the MEA council could bring to the iGaming industry in Malta, she explained: "MEA never had a Gaming Representative within the council and I think now is high time that we are represented given the local importance and contribution of our industry".

"Gaming contributes to such a great extent to the Maltese economy, and HR Connect (via myself) being able to contribute to any simplification of processes and experiences for both employers, and employees", she added.

Membership to the well-positioned MEA, she said: "will enable us further insight and put us in the forefront to discuss any white paper, process that need altering, and also raise awareness on current and important topic".

Additionally, she stated that she would like to "raise awareness" on the amount of good work that MEA does on a local level with the Gaming Industry.

Discussing what specific issues she'd like to see raised on the MEA stage, she explained that current themes include the gender pay gap, mental health, flexibility in the workplace (and subsequently work-life balance), amongst others.

Amongst topics she explained is on the agenda,, and one which is "very close to [Ms Frendo's] heart", she identified that she'd like to address an iGaming skills shortage and the need to educated new employees.

"I will be addressing this at the MEA and I am looking forward to working with my MEA colleagues to discuss how we can work with both the educational sector and employees so that we can understand the needs of employers in terms of skills and making sure that our educational system is preparing the young generation for these needs.

"It is imperative that we prepare our students from an early age by informing them on what is available on the market and start building their knowledge and enthusiasm in sectors that are struggling to find local talent".