Government Notices published in Govt. Gazette No. 20,155 of 26th March 2019

It is notified for general information that the President of Malta has resumed the functions of the Office of the President on Friday, 22nd March, 2019.

Mrs Dolores Cristina has ceased to perform the functions of President.

IT is notified for general information that the Hon. Joseph Muscat, KUOM, BCom, BA(Hons), MA (European Studies), PhD(Bristol), MP, resumed duties as Prime Minister on Friday, 22nd March, 2019, and that the arrangements made by Government Notice No. 365 of the 20th March, 2019, ceased to have effect accordingly.

IT is notified for general information that the following Bill is published in the Supplement to this Gazzette:

Bill No. 80 entitled the Competition Act and Consumer Affairs Act and other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019.

IT is notified for general information that the following Legal Notices were published in the Supplement to the Government Gazette No. 20,154 of the 22nd March, 2019.

L.N. 46 of 2019: Financial Administration and Audit Act (Cap. 174); Public Procurement of Entities Operating in the Water, Energy, Transport and Postal Services Sectors Regulations (Amendment), 2019.

L.N. 47 of 2019: Income Tax Act (Cap. 123); Tax Credit (Construction Waste Recycling) (Amendment) Rules, 2019.

L.N. 48 of 2019: Traffic Regulation Ordinance (Cap. 65), Authority for Transport in Malta Act (Cap. 499); Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

L.N. 49 of 2019: Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549); Out of Court Settlement Regulations, 2019.

MALTA RESIDENCY VISA AGENCY

IT is hereby notified for general information that by the powers of the Public Administration Act (Cap. 595), and in terms of S.L. 595.26, the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification has appointed Mr Charles Mizzi as Chief Executive Officer for the Malta Residency Visa Agency.

This appointment is valid for three (3) years, with effect from 1st February, 2019.

THE Commissioner of Inland Revenue notifies that, on the date shown hereunder, the price of gold and silver on which valuations made by the Consul for Goldsmiths and Silversmiths are based has been fixed for the purposes of article 14 of the said Act as follows:

Tapering of Social Assistance

The Minister for the Family, Children's Rights and Social Solidarity is hereby extending the scheme introduced with effect from 1st January, 2014, which aim is to introduce persons who have been registering for more than one year under Part One of the Register maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Employment and Training Services Act and/or who are in receipt of Social Assistance as per Article 30 of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) to partake in insurable employment.

This scheme is also applicable to the head of household, being a single parent and taking care of children under the age of 23 and being in receipt of Social Assistance as per Article 30 of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318).

Definitions

In this scheme, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Social Policy;

"Director" means the Director General responsible for the Department of Social Security;

"Head of Household" shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318);

"Household" shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318);

"Insurable Employment" shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318).

Who is eligible for this Scheme

The head of household who has been in receipt of any one of the following non-contributory social benefits for a minimum period of one year in the three years preceeding the claim; and the head of household being a single parent and taking care of children under the age of 23 and in receipt one of the following non-contributory benefits:

Social Assistance; or

Unemployment Assistance.

Employers who decide to employ persons who are in receipt of one of the social benefits mentioned above.

How to acquire the right for this scheme

A beneficiary who is registering under Part One of the Register maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Employment and Training Services Act, and has been in receipt of the Unemployment Assistance for a minimum period of one year in the three years preceding the claim.

A beneficiary in receipt of Social Assistance for a minimum period of one year in the three years preceding the claim and who decides to partake in insurable employment.

A beneficiary, being the head of household who is a single parent and taking care of children under the age of 23.

A beneficiary who has been in receipt of Social Assistance for a minimum period of one year in the three years preceding the claim and who enters into a marriage or civil union or enter into cohabitation, through a contract between both parties or by a unilateral declaration, which is confirmed and certified its legal validity under the terms and provisions of the Cohabitation Act (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Malta) with a person participating in a gainful occupation.

The Director may, from time to time, request any other document that may be required so that the claim may be processed, revised or renewed.

What does this Scheme consist of

This scheme consists of the following:

A beneficiary of Social Assistance, or the spouse of such beneficiary, and who has been in receipt of this benefit for a minimum period of one year in the three years preceding the claim, shall not forfeit the entitlement for Social Assistance and that the person shall still be entitled to 65% of the rate for the first year, to 45% of the rate for the second year and 25% of the rate for the third and last year. The eligibility depends on the person's income being not less than the National Minimum Wage.

A beneficiary of Social Assistance, who is the head of household, being a single parent and taking care of children under the age of 23 and partakes insurable employment of not less than ten (10) hours per week at the hourly rate equivalent to the National Minimum Wage (€4.40), shall not forfeit the entitlement for Social Assistance, and that person shall still be entitled to 65% of the rate for the first year, to 45% of the rate for the second year and 25% of the rate for the third and last year.

A beneficiary of Social Assistance, who has been in receipt of this benefit for a minimum period of one year in the last three years preceding the claim, and enters a marriage or civil union or enter into cohabitation, through a contract between both parties or by a unilateral declaration, which is confirmed and certified its legal validity under the terms and provisions of the Cohabitation Act (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Malta), with an employed person whose income is equivalent to the weekly National Minimum Wage, shall not forfeit the entitlement for Social Assistance, and that person shall still be entitled to 65% of the rate for the first year, to 45% of the rate for the second year and 25% of the rate for the third and last year.

The employer shall be entitled to 25% of the rate due for every year for a maximum period of three years and in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.

The employer shall be entitled to 12.5% of the rate due for every year for a maximum period of three years if the beneficiary is employed on a part-time basis and in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

The employer shall not be entitled to any payments in respect of provisions of paragraph (c).

How shall this assistance be granted

The percentages of payment as explained in Section 4, are to be calculated only on the main benefit (Social Assistance and Unemployment Assistance). In the case of Children's Allowance and Supplementary Allowance, employment income shall be calculated in terms of the provisions of Part VII and Part VIII of the Second Schedule of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) respectively.

This scheme is applicable to both full-time and part-time employments. However, the income shall not be less than the National Minimum Wage which amounts to €175.84 per week for 2019. This amount varies annually depending on the cost of living adjustment as awarded by the Government.

This scheme is applicable also to the head of household, being a single parent taking care of children under the age of 23 and the income exceeds the amount of €43.96 per week.

Persons are eligible for this scheme on a one time basis up to a maximum of three years. Nevertheless, if a person does not continue to benefit from this scheme for the full period of three years, the person shall still be eligible to benefit in future from this scheme for that remaining period.

Employers can benefit from this scheme in respect of every person employed by him or her and who is eligible in accordance with the conditions established in this government notice.

The percentages paid to persons who are self-occupied shall be identical to percentages paid to persons in insurable employment, as explained in Section 4 (a), (b) and (c).

Provision of false information and non-compliance with the provisions of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318)

If a person:

Provides false information or fails to report to the Director any change in circumstances; or

Fails to comply with the provisions of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) with the aim of obtaining or continuing to obtain this assistance from the beneficiary and the employer, the provisions of Part X of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) shall be applicable.

Duration of the Scheme

The scheme is being extended with effect from 1st January 2019 and shall remain in force until such date as the Minister may prescribe in the Government Gazette.

Amendments to the Scheme

The Minister may effect any necessary amendments to this scheme by publishing the said amendments in the Government Gazette.

In Work Benefit for Persons Carrying Out a Gainful Occupation Having Children Under the Age of 23 Years

The Minister for the Family, Children's Rights and Social Solidarity is extending the following scheme, which is aimed at encouraging persons with children under the age of 23 to participate in a gainful occupation and therefore reduce their dependency on social benefits.

Definitions

In this scheme, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Social Policy;

"Director" means the Director General responsible for the Department of Social Security;

"Head of Household" shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318);

"Household" shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318);

"Insurable Employment" shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318).

Who is eligible for this Scheme

Families residing in Malta where both parents are carrying out a gainful occupation with earnings from such gainful occupation falling between €10,000 and €24,630 and where;

the earnings of anyone of the parents does not fall below €3,000 and

the children in the same household have still not attained the age of 23 years

Single parent families carrying out a gainful occupation with earnings falling between €6,600 and €17,130 and where the children in the same household have still not attained the age of 23 years.

Families residing in Malta where one of the parents is in a gainful occupation with earnings from such gainful occupation falling between €6,600 and €17,130 and where the children in the same household have still not attained the age of 23 years.

How to acquire the right for this Scheme

Through an application in which is available from District Offices and also from the Department's website (http://socialsecurity.gov.mt).

The Director reserves the right to request any documents or evidence as necessary to process the claims.

What does this Scheme consist of

This scheme consists of:

The following applicable rates on a yearly basis as per indicated table:

In the case of working single parent an additional €80 per year is paid to the first eligible child in the €8,830 to €9,729 income brackets.

How shall this assistance be granted

Through a bank deposit or

By means of a cheque to the person who is the head of household.

Provision of false information and non-compliance with the provisions of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318)

If a person:

Provides false information or fails to report to the Director any change in circumstances; or

Fails to comply with the provisions of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) with the aim of obtaining or continuing to obtain this assistance by the beneficiary, the provisions of Part X of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) shall be applicable.

Duration of the Scheme

The extended scheme shall enter into force on the 1st January 2019 and shall remain in force until such date as the Minister may prescribe in the Government Gazette.

Amendments to the Scheme

The Minister may effect any necessary amendments to this scheme by publishing the said amendments in the Government Gazette.