by Dr Keith Borg – Partner
Yesterday, 18 March 2020, the Prime Minister of Malta, the Minister for Finance and Financial Services together with the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, in light of the present circumstances, announced a number of measures aimed at supporting local business.
Hereunder we outline a few of what we consider are the most central of the said measures. These measures are still being detailed and we have already sought a number of clarifications in respect to same.
A. postponement of certain tax payments and consequent fiscal obligations;
B. a grant of €350 per employee to businesses that have had employees on mandatory quarantine;
C. employees of enterprises that suffered from a complete suspension of operations will be entitled to a grant equivalent to 2 days’ salary per week (based on a monthly salary of €800);
D. self-employed individuals who suffered from a complete suspension of operations are entitled to receive a grant equivalent to 2 days’ salary per week (based on an assumed monthly salary of €800);
E. self-employed individuals having their own employees and who suffered from a complete suspension of operations will be entitled to a grant equivalent to 3 days’ salary per week (based on an assumed monthly salary of €800);
F. where the operations of a business have reduced by at least 25%, employees will benefit from a grant equivalent to 1 days’ salary per week (based on a monthly salary of €800);
G. individuals whose full-time employment has been terminated with effect from 9 March 2020 shall benefit from a temporary increase in unemployment benefit of up to €800 monthly;
H. all enterprises terminating active employment contracts of employment of third-country nationals shall be denied the possibility of recruiting third-country nationals;
I. only applications for highly-skilled third-country workers shall be considered;
J. in case of termination of employment of third-country nationals, assistance will be provided to find alternative employment;
K. Jobsplus shall provide assistance:
J.1 to individuals who are resident in Malta and whose employment has been terminated;
J.2 to third-country nationals whose employment has been terminated;
J.3 in connection with new recruitment and work permit queries;
L. €800 Government benefit per month (for up to 2 months) for families with school-aged children where both parents work in the private sector and are unable to work remotely and who require additional leave to care for the children;
M. persons with disabilities who are unable to work from home, will be entitled to a benefit of €800 monthly for a specified period;
N. rental subsidies by the Government shall increase where a family member living in subsidised accommodation has his/her employment terminated;
O. the possibility of requesting a 3 month moratorium on both personal and business loans;
Other measures relating to teleworking initiatives and quarantine leave, have also been introduced.
Should you require any assistance in connection wit any of the above measures, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Disclaimer: This article is not to be considered as legal advice, and is not to be acted on as such. Should you require further information or legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@abalegal.eu.