The Wage Supplement Scheme will be extended for another month and weaned off this May. This was announced by Minister for Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli and Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia.

The Minister said that the total budget invested in the Wage Supplement Scheme over the last 26 months will exceed €720 million.

The scheme, which was crucial to the survival of Maltese enterprises and employees’ income throughout the pandemic, was launched in March 2020 as the Maltese economy started to feel the brunt of Covid-19, the Minister said.

Following further consultations, it was restructured at different points to improve support for the worst affected enterprises and self-employed.

Minister Dalli stated that “over 17,000 businesses were assisted, and some 120,000 employees have benefited from the scheme. This policy decision encouraged businesses to retain employees, without the need to let them go and then re-employ them – effectively paving the way for the current economic regeneration phase.”

The sectors that received the largest volume of support included hospitality and food, retail, and the services industries.

Minister Miriam Dalli explained that the support to businesses will not be terminated but will in fact continue by means of shifting towards measures that enhance regeneration; specifically, a modal shift towards sustainable and digital transformation.

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