Over €2M is being invested in the Employment Aid Programme in Gozo, with hundreds of employees and a substantial number of businesses taking up this initiative, the Government announced in a statement.

It said that participants’ eligibility criteria has been widened in line with the General Block Exemption Regulation, with the programme also focusing on helping persons with disability finding employment through larger subsidies for their prospective employers.

Through the EAP, employers will receive 50% of the basic wage plus half the cost of the employer’s National Insurance contribution, for a maximum of 52 weeks, with employers of persons with disability receiving 75% of the basic wage cost. Most grants will commence on the 2nd January 2014.

“This programme is a further consolidation of the Government policies in which Gozo plays a central role, with employment for Gozitans in Gozo on top of the agenda,” the Governement said.

During a press conference the Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds Dr. Ian Borg said that, “in the past eight months, the EU funds committed for Gozo have increased by a further €16,000,000.”

Dr. Borg announced that “this Government has now fulfilled the commitment previously made by the former Government, whereby the pledge to allocate 10% from the structural funds to Gozo has now been honoured.”

Minister for Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo said that this is a further boost for Gozo and will provide the potential for growth for Gozitan businesses.

The Minister for Gozo, Anton Refalo, stated that “with hard work, the Government is showing that employment for Gozitans in Gozo is not just a slogan.”

“Facts are already confirming that after just ten months we are already implementing what we have promised,” Dr Refalo said.

Minister Refalo said that “the Employment Aid Programme scheme received more than 400 applications from prospective employees. It is estimated that over 170 different employers are going to benefit from this scheme.”

He added that the age of the prospective employees varies from 16-59 years. 220 are females and 203 are males. “This signifies that, thanks to the Government’s determination and to the cooperation being shown between the Ministry for Gozo, the Ministry for Education and Employment and the Parliament Secreteriat for EU funds, this Government is truly implementing what it believes in.”

Minister Refalo remarked that the successful effect of this scheme on the Gozitan economy will result in more than 400 people being employed in Gozo.

“For Gozo this is a huge accomplishment. In fact, if this number had to be taken in proportion to Malta this would mean the creation of 5000 new jobs in Malta,” the Minister said.

“This proof continues to confirm the commitment of the Ministry for Gozo to make the best use of the EU funds by helping entrepreneurs and the ETC employees, who day after day assist and offer all the required training to all those who will be seeking jobs,” Minister Refalo concluded.

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