The Government of Malta has unveiled a €1.8 billion package of measures to help businesses struggling to cope with the impact of the Coronavirus. 

The package includes €700 million in tax deferrals, €900 million in loan guarantees, a €210 million injection to assist the economy, which includes €35 million to health authorities to fight COVID-19.

The key measures are listed below: 

• €350 grant payment per employee under quarantine, to all employers to compensate for 14 days mandatory quarantine leave
• Where one of parents is required to stay at home to take care of children due to school closure and neither of the parents is able to telework– the Government will pay a benefit of €800 per month per family (expected to be for 2 months).
• Individuals which ended up unemployed due to the employer’s mandatory suspension of business, will benefit from 2 days per week based on a salary cap of €800 per month covered by government. This is expected to apply to individuals previously employed in the accommodation, food and beverages, language schools and entertainment.
• Self-employed individuals who suffered from a complete suspension of operations such as accommodation, food and beverages, language schools and entertainment, will benefit from 2 days per week payment based on a salary cap of €800 per month covered by government. This benefit is increased to 3 days per week if the self-employed also employs individuals.
• Individuals employed with entities which suffered a downturn in operations of at least 25% but continued operating, will benefit from a 1 day per week benefit, based on a salary cap of €800 per month covered by government. This benefit is applicable also in the case of self- employed and is increased to 2 days per week if the self-employed employs individuals
• Employees who ended up unemployed as from 9th March, will benefit from a special unemployment benefit of €800 per month
• Disable individuals who due to their medical condition were unable to continue working will also be entitled to a €800 per month for a period to be specified
• Persons ending unemployed and previous not benefitting from rent subsidy, can now benefit from the rent subsidy. In case of individuals already benefiting from rent subsidy this will be increased (to an amount not specified). This measure is applicable also if only one dependent has his job terminated.
• €750m maximum bank guarantee scheme for businesses.
• Up to 3-month moratorium for personal and business loan
• Enterprises which terminate employees will lose right to employ new Third Country Nationals (TCN). No new TCN applications will be accepted with the exception of highly skilled workers. TCN in Malta who lose their job will be assisted to find employment with enterprises looking to employ.
• Jobsplus has launched a new service to assist the following: a) residents whose employment has been terminated; b) TCN whose employment has been terminated as well as to assist work permit queries and c) employers seeking new recruits.