Government Notices published in Govt. Gazette No. 20,686 of 20th August 2021

Covid-19 Wage Supplement Scheme

THIS Government Notice updates and changes, where necessary, the provisions of Government Notice No. 389 of 2020 as updated by Government Notice No. 888 of 2021, in order to reflect the latest changes to the Covid-19 Wage Supplement Scheme as announced by Government. 

1. Interpretation

The definitions contained in Government Notice 389 of 2020 shall also apply to this Notice, mutatis mutandis.

The Covid-19 Wage Supplement ensures a minimum income to employees and supports the sustainability of businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the initial implementation period, the data available on the effects of the pandemic on businesses was limited and the aid was determined on the basis of what was considered as a fair apportionment of a maximum monthly wage supplement of euro 800 which was based on the main activity of a business. Considering that in most instances financial data is now more readily available, a new approach which provides a more objective distribution shall be implemented. The baseline monthly wage supplement of euro 800 remains the guiding principle in providing the maximum support to those sectors which were most severely affected by the pandemic.

As economic activity increases, a reduction in Wage Supplement shall be implemented in two phases. The first phase will be implemented in August 2021 while a second reduction will be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2021. These reductions will not have an effect on businesses that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. These will still receive the full wage supplement till the end of 2021.

2. Applicability

This Notice shall have the same applicability as established in the Covid-19 Wage Supplement Scheme as announced in Government Notice No. 389 of 2020 as amended by Government Notice No. 888 of 2021 (hereinafter 'the Scheme').

3. Details of Updates to the Scheme

3.1 From August 2021 benefiaries shall be receiving a wage supplement established in relation to the decrease in sales based on VAT submissions and any other official documentation which the Corporation may deem to be relevant. The maximum allowable wage supplement shall be calculated as provided in the table below:

3.2 From October 2021 a further reduction will be implemented and the maximum wage supplement shall be calculated as provided in the table below:

3.3 For applicants whose sales (revenue) data is not readily available, the wage supplement for full-time employees shall be capped at €420 as from August 2021 and at €210 as from October 2021. No wage supplement will be provided to part-time employees of any applicant whose turnover data is not made available to the Corporation.

3.4 Any adjustment to the amount of the Covid-19 Wage Supplement payable to employees as a result of the changes to the Scheme being introduced by means of this Notice, shall be automatically applied by Malta Enterprise without the need of any application from the employees and/or their employers.

The Director General Standards and Metrology Institute 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: