- Commencement of payments for the COVID-19 Wage
Supplement, Quarantine Leave and Telework Scheme
- 17,000 businesses applied for the
COVID-19 Wage Supplement through which 77,000 jobs are to be saved
- Malta Enterprise to administer Government’s scheme
on financial assistance to help businesses address liquidity difficulties
The COVID-19 Wage Supplement, Quarantine Leave and Telework Incentive
Scheme payments started to be disbursed as from this week.
Details on the process of payments, pending applications issues and number
of applications received with regards to the COVID-19 Economic Support Measures
were given by Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Silvio
Schembri when addressing a virtual press conference accompanied by Malta
Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia.
17,000 businesses applied for the COVID-19 Wage Supplement through which
77,000 jobs are to be saved.
So far around €5 million have already been disbursed with regard to the
COVID-19 Wage Supplement covering around 12,700 employees. This includes those
benefiting from the partial COVID-19 Wage Supplement. The payments will be
covering the months of March and April; an investment of €100 million.
Concerning the Telework Scheme, €81,124 have been paid out so far covering
64 applications. For this incentive, 291 applications were received of which 77
were approved whilst 214 are at evaluation stage.
With regard to the incentive pertaining to the refund to employers for
costs incurred in order to support the employee’s Quarantine Leave, €49,350 has
been already disbursed and this should increase to €171,500 covering 490
employees. For this incentive, 1298 applications were received of which 491
were so far approved and 807 are pending.
During the press conference, Minister for the Economy, Investment and
Small Businesses Silvio Schembri announced that the Ministry, through Malta
Enterprise, will be administering the Government scheme aimed at assisting
businesses financially to address liquidity difficulties. He explained that
through this scheme the Government is allocating €20 million a year which shall
subsidise 2.5% of the loan interest rate on working capital loans obtained by
businesses from banks.
Minister Schembri said that the Government’s strategy doesn’t stop at
tackling COVID-19 impact, but looks ahead for when the storm passes and that it
is through such implementation of measures that the economy will get back on
its feet and regain its rhythm.
‘Discussions are well underway and a thorough analysis is being done
focusing on COVID-19 economic exit strategy followed then by a restart strategy
which shall include functionality measures for different businesses, assistance
and amendments were necessary. In this regard, the Government will work
hand in hand with families and businesses to ensure a smooth transition
post-COVID-19 and come out stronger’, said Minister Schembri.
Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia explained that via email, applicants are
receiving a list of individual ammounts for each employee that is eligible for
the supplement. Applicants are then to decide whether they accept and agree
with that amount, if they partially accept, and lastly whether they disagree
with the calculation outcome issued by Malta Enterprise. In case of a partial
acceptance or an unfavourable reply by Malta Enterprise, the applicant can
reply to the corporation contesting its decision by providing it with more
in-depth information supported with evidence.
Farrugia said that the way the application process is being conducted
ensures efficiency, and that fair and just feedback is provided to the applicants.
