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Factsheet for measure MT-2021-20/1924 Updated – measures in Malta

One-time grant for businesses forced to close in 2021

Country Malta , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 10 May 2021 – 13 August 2021
Context COVID-19
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation
Author Luke Anthony Fiorini (University of Malta) and Eurofound
Measure added 30 June 2021 (updated 22 June 2022)

Background information

A series of measures to aid businesses impacted by COVID-19 were announced by the Prime Minister, Robert Abela, on 27 April 2021. Many of these focused on the extension of measures already in place, such as those that provide subsidies for organisations' electricity and rental bills. Amongst these measures, was a one-time grant for businesses which were forced to remain closed after 10 May 2021 by the Health Authority.

Content of measure

Businesses made to remain closed after 10 May 2021 as per the Legal Notices issued by the Superintendent of Public Health, and were in receipt of the state's Wage Supplement, were offered a one-time grant of €1,000 to reduce the impact of this forced closure.

The grant is administered by the Malta Enterprise, Malta's economic development agency, tasked with attracting new foreign direct investment as well as facilitating the growth of existing operations.

An email is to be sent out to eligible organisations, with a link to a simple application form. Amongst the information that must be provided is the amount of De Minimis aid received by the organisation in the current and previous two fiscal years.

No further information is available, including when this grant will be disbursed.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

01 August 2021

It was announced by the Malta Enterprise that businesses could apply for this measure up until the 13 of August 2021, after which the measure would be closed.

Use of measure

No information available.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Sector specific set of companies
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Consulted
Form Not applicable Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

The involvement of social partners in the development of this specific measure is not known, however the measure was announced along with a package of measures which aimed to stimulate economic activity. In relation to the announced package of measures, a number of employer associations highlighted how they had been in regular consultation with the government and that the package of measures reflected their input. These included the Chamber for SMEs, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry (known as the Malta Chamber) and the Gozo Business Chamber.

Views and reactions

Several Employer Associations commented on the package of measures of which the current measure formed part of. No specific mention was made of the current measure, however the social partners' comments on the package of measures was favourable. These included: the Chamber for SMEs, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry (known as the Malta Chamber) and the Gozo Business Chamber.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities I56 Food and beverage service activities
      R - Arts, Entertainment And Recreation R93 Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2021), One-time grant for businesses forced to close in 2021 , measure MT-2021-20/1924 (measures in Malta), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/MT-2021-20_1924.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.