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19.03.2020 3 NEWS THE Building Regulation Office found 415 irregular construction sites out of 593 inspections in Naxxar, in- cluding Maghtab and Salini, since 2018. e information was tabled in parliament on Wednes- day by Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg to a question by Opposition whip Robert Cutajar who asked about building irregularities in Mellieha, St Paul's Bay, and Naxxar. Borg said that where there were irregularities, warn- ings were issued by the BRO, followed by the tempo- rary curtailment of construction work and fines where such irregularities were not settled. In Mellieha, including Manikata, 122 inspections were carried out since January 2018 and 102 sites were found to be irregular. In St Paul's Bay, including Xemxija, Bugibba, and Qa- wra, 324 construction sites were inspected and 269 were found to be irregular. BRO found 415 irregular construction sites in 593 inspections in Naxxar in three years Out of 1,039 inspections carried out by the Building Regulation Office in the areas of St Paul's Bay, Naxxar, and Mellieha, 786 were found to be irregular FROM PAGE 1 e package was announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela, Finance Min- ister Edward Scicluna and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri during a press conference at Castille on Wednesday night. Abela said that though these were generous measures, anyone who is able to attend work should do so until the Superintendence of Public Health said otherwise. "is isn't the time for a holiday. Any- one who could report to work should do so. is is a time for discipline," he said. During the conference, Schembri also announced that Malta will no longer accept applications for work from un- skilled third-country nationals "with immediate effect." e key measures are: • €1.6 billion in liquidity for compa- nies: €700 million in tax deferrals and €900 million in guarantees • e €900 million in government guarantees to companies are ex- pected to open up the availability of credit and loans to the tune of €4.5 billion that would give com- panies additional liquidity • Health authorities allocated ad- ditional budget of €35 million to combat Covid-19. • Quarantine leave: Government to pay companies €350 per employee on quarantine leave. • Government will cover additional two months leave for parent who has to stay at home to take care of the children as a result of school closures with an €800 per month benefit. • A company registering 25% less sales will benefit from 1 day per week per employee. is amounts to around €37 per day, equivalent to around €147 per month per employee. Measure is capped at €800 per month. • A business that was asked to close as part of the Covid-19 measures will get 2 days of assistance per week per employee. is is equiv- alent to €300 per month per em- ployee. • A self-employed person will get the same amount. • A self-employed person who also employs others will get 3 days per week of assistance for himself and 2 days per week for every employ- ee. • A Maltese or EU citizen who be- comes redundant will get €800 per month as unemployment benefit. • A third country national who be- comes unemployed will get no financial assistance but JobsPlus will help to find alternative work. • People in rental property and who lose their job and did not qualify for rent subsidy, will now benefit from the scheme. • Foreign workers: A company that makes anybody redundant cannot apply for a work permit for a third country national. Malta will stop accepting new third country na- tional work permit applications. 'A minimum budget' Opposition Leader Adrian Delia had a brusque response to the measures an- nounced by the government. On Twit- ter, he wrote: "is is not a mini-budget but a minimum budget." He went on to say that the government was paying more money to American healthcare network, Steward, than on increasing protection against the coro- navirus. e audited accounts of the healthcare company that runs three hospitals - Ka- rin Grech, St Luke's hospital and Gozo General Hospital - show that the com- pany's directors received €6 million in remuneration, and that there were also "other expenses" of €24 million. 'This isn't the time for a holiday' - Robert Abela Finance minister Edward Scilcuna, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri announcing the finance package

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