Accessibility

This statement applies to the official website of Servizzi Ewropej f’Malta (SEM) and was last updated on March 25, 2021.

Compliance Status

SEM is committed to making its online services accessible to all. We have a national and global user base and are dedicated to continuously improving accessibility of our services with a focus on the anti-discrimination requirements of the Equal Opportunities Act (Persons with Disability) of 2000 (EOA).

Compliance Process

The SEM website is designed to work with Internet Explorer 11 (using the latest version of Silverlight) and the most recent two versions of Firefox and Chrome browsers.

As part of this effort, SEM adheres to accessibility standard EN310549 and WCAG2.0 guidelines. Our online resources and products are evaluated both manually and programmatically for conformance to WCAG 2.0 Level AA guidelines. The SEM website in particular is designed to work well and be accessible when being accessed with suitably updated hardware and software products.

Further recognising that adherence to standards and guidelines, cannot on its own ensure that a product is accessible, SEM also carries out usability evaluations in collaboration with persons with disability, so as to gather necessary feedback. We also strive to implement accessibility for information channels that are provided via third party platforms wherever possible, like for example our YouTube or Facebook pages.

Accessibility Measures

The SEM website does not make use of font, magnification and colour modification widgets. This is because we believe that this functionality is already integrated in most web browsers or is available via different add-ons and plugins which different users are free to customise to their needs. As a result, these arbitrary user customisations are available for most websites, not only that of the Agency. In order to allow for this level of customisation, we seek to maximise compatibility with these user modifications.

As part of and in addition to the above-mentioned guidelines, the SEM website implements the following accessibility features:

  • Maintain a consistent HTML Heading hierarchy and information layout across different web pages.
  • Information content is organised into HTML lists wherever applicable.
  • Deployed a link focus highlighting script in order to provide visual cues for exclusive keyboard users.
  • Disseminate RSS and email notifications about new website content.
  • Implement a dynamic and interactive sitemap in order to facilitate navigation of the website content.
  • Add image title, alt tag and caption wherever this information is relevant and useful.
  • Maximise colour contrast for text where applicable.
  • Actual link text is descriptive enough to inform user where the link points to.
  • Implement all external links so that they open into new browser tabs.

Inaccessible Content

SEM is not aware of specific inaccessible content or accessibility issues on its website.  If you identify such content, kindly let us know via the contact details provided below. Should such an instance arise, SEM’s goal is to create an Accessibility Remediation Roadmap (ARR). The ARR describes the steps needed to help identify an accessibility issue and bring the product into compliance with the EOA, including the anticipated schedule for completion of this goal. To initiate an Accessibility Remediation process please contact SEM at the phone number or email address shown below.

Feedback and Contact Details

The more services and resources we place online, the more likely it may be to miss some problems, but we remain committed to addressing any access issues promptly. That is where we would like your help. If you experience any difficulties in accessing our website, or have trouble using any aspect of the website, we would like you to let us know.

You may contact SEM as per details below:

  • Email: info.sem@gov.mt
  • Phone: +356 2200 3300 

Enforcement Procedure

The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) is the entity responsible for implementing Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies.  In case your ICT accessibility related query is not addressed within the time frames established within the ARR or you wish to lodge a formal complaint, you can do so by contacting the MCA on 21336840 or by filling the online complaint form at https://mca.org.mt/consumer/forms/complaints.