Update from press conference of the 24^th March 2020 – 3^rd financial package.

Social Security measures will be as follows:

• Where both parents work in the private sector, and teleworking is not doable, €800 per month will be given to one of the parents to take care of the children at home.

• Individuals with disabilities (registered with Jobsplus and working in the private sector) that cannot work from home but had to stay at home due to the risks of COVID-19 with respective to their disability will benefit from €800 monthly.

• Individuals that have been made redundant as from 9^th March 2020 shall benefit from a temporary increase in their unemployment benefit of up to €800 monthly.

These measures apply for both employees and self-employed and will apply retrospectively as from 9 March 2020. Separate applications will be made available online via servizz.gov. More information available through 153.

Malta Enterprise measures will be as follows:

There is a distinction between those sectors that have been significantly impacted (Tourism and those industries that had to shut down – Annex A) and others impacted with moderation (manufacturing, wholesale and warehousing – Annex B).

• For those sectors which have been significantly affected (Annex A), the government has increased the benefit to €800 monthly for each employee. This will be paid to the employer and those on minimum wage (Є179.33 weekly) will still be paid €800. Those employees being paid between €800-€1200, it is suggested that the employer still pays the employee for the difference, with a maximum of €400. If an employer cannot sustain this payment due to a substantial fall in operations and employee earns more than €1,200 monthly, this will be dealt with between the unions, employee, employer and the DIER, on a case by case basis. However, the government asks for flexibility and cooperation from both the employees and employers. 

• For those sectors impacted a bit less than the former sector (Annex B) will benefit from one day per week based on a monthly wage of €800, with the possibility of an increase to two days per week.

• The government noted that Gozo has been more affected than Malta, so for these other sectors (Annex B) in Gozo, they immediately qualify to benefit from two days per week based on a monthly wage of €800.

• Part-time employees will be paid pro-rata based on a monthly wage of €500.

These benefits all apply retrospectively from the 9^th of March 2020 and all apply to both self-employed individuals and employees. Depending on the relevant VAT number, the respective NACE code will determine which category of sectors each business falls into. For more information refer to the attached annexes.

Eligible sectors can apply online via https://covid19.maltaenterprise.com/

Annex A 
Annex B 
Source:  http://covid19.maltaenterprise.com/