Following the first financial package released on the 18th of March 2020 the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Robert Abela, yesterday, 24th of March 2020, announced a second Financial Package Aid to combat and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on certain specific sectors. In its press release, the Government of Malta has announced a fiscal measures package to aid families and businesses in the face of the COVID-19 challenge.

The Government will be granting direct capital injection of ?800 a month for full-timers and self-employed and ?500 a month for part-timers and to those parents who both work in certain specific sectors listed below and where one of them needs to remain home to take care of the children. Persons with a disability who work in the private sector and opt to stay at home due to their being vulnerable to COVID-19 will also receive ?800 per month.

Those persons who were made unemployed effective from 9th March 2020 onwards will receive unemployment benefits and a special benefit which amounts to ?800 monthly. With this revised package, Government will moreover pay up to 5 days' work to each employee who works in the sectors most impacted by COVID-19, and will be granting ?800 per month. Expenditure for all direct measures will be around ?65-70 million per month.

The list of specific critical sectors which will be eligible for the 2nd financial aid package are, as follows:

  1. Wholesale;
  2. Retail;
  3. Accommodation;
  4. Food & Beverage Service Activities;
  5. Renting and Leasing of Motor Vehicles;
  6. Employment Activities;
  7. Travel Agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities;
  8. Security and investigation activities;
  9. Service Buildings;
  10. Transport;
  11. Creative, arts and entertainment activities;
  12. Personal Activities;
  13. Manufacturing;
  14. Warehousing;
  15. Information.

Should you wish to seek further advice on how to apply for the above schemes, you may contact CSB Group on info@csbgroup.com.

The information provided above is not to be construed as final and it is subject to the relevant Legal Notices to be published on the Government Gazette. Furthermore, such grants are subject to eligibility criteria which have not been as yet published.

Originally published 25 March, 2020.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.