The list of self-employed and business categories that will be entitled to the COVID-19 Wage Supplement measure was updated on Sunday, following consultations with government, Malta Enterprise said.
The applications for these measures have also now opened and are available here.
What are the terms and conditions?
The Wage Supplement measure provides employees with a basic wage cover to address the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds from this measure will be forwarded to the employer, who will be obliged to guarantee that the Wage Supplement is forwarded to the employee.
Employees benefiting from this measure will be understood not to be attending to their works, due to the restriction in operations as required by the health authorities, or due to economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.
An employee supported through this measure shall not be considered to be on leave.
In certain instance if there is an agreement with the Department Of Industrial And Employment Relations, employees may be required to work a four or three day week, in this instance, the Wage Supplement would still be allocated in accordance to the parameters established.
For any period covered this measure, on the basis of a five-day week, any assistance granted by government to that same individual, covering the same period, as support under another scheme related to COVID Pandemic, will be considered as double funding.
Funding for that period will be adjusted accordingly so that assistance granted by government shall never exceed an amount which is equal to the amount of supplement being granted by government to cover a full 5-day week. Such adjustments may be done by the Malta Enterprise on subsequent payments of a COVID Wage Supplement.
Employers granted this wage supplement, covering a partial week, should guarantee an income of at least Euro 720 (net) per month to supported employees, inclusive of any COVID wage supplement.
The employees being supported through this measure cannot be made redundant by their employer.
The COVID Wage Supplement must be recorded separately on the employees pay slip and FS3 as ‘COVID WAGE SUPPLEMENT’. National insurance, as due by the employee, shall be deducted, a priori, by the Malta Enterprise and therefore funds disbursed shall be forwarded in full to each respective employee.
The employer shall pay his share of N.I. on COVID Wage Supplements, whilst all COVID Wage Supplements are non-taxable.
For applicants who are deemed eligible, disbursements by the Malta Enterprise to an employer, shall be made at a later stage following the receipt of email notifying an applicant on the outcome of the evaluation process.
How much will you get?
Full-time employees of enterprises operating in sectors that suffered drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Annex A), or had to temporarily suspend operations on the order of the Superintendent of Public Health will be entitled to up to five days’ salary based on a monthly wage of €800.
Self-employed individuals that fall within this category can also benefit from the Wage Supplement measure as will part-time employees, who will be eligible €500 per month.
The ‘drastically’ affected updated list of sectors, Annex A, may be found here.
Full-time employees of enterprises in other adversely affected sectors (Annex B), including wholesale, manufacturing and warehousing will be entitled to one days’ salary per week equivalent to €160 per month.
Part-time employees will be eligible for one day’s salary per week, equivalent to €100 per month.
In the case of Gozo based enterprises, this will increase to two days’ salary per week equivalent to €320 per month for full-time employees, and €200 per month for part-time employees.
The ‘adversely’ affected updated list of sectors, Annex B, may be found here.
In the case of self-employed in other adversely affected sectors (Annex B) who have employees will be entitled to two-days’ salary per week equivalent to €320 per month.
Self-employed based in Gozo operating in other adversely affected sectors (Annex B) will be entitled to €320 per month. This will increase to €480, for those self-employed who employ staff, and the employees will be entitled to 2 days salary calculated on €800 a month.
For clarifications Malta Enterprise can be reached on 144 during office hours or via email [email protected].