Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1300699
GOVERNMENT'S voucher scheme will be extended further with a new round of vouchers to be received by families in the coming days. Finance Minister Edward Sci- cluna said government will be handing out €50 million worth of vouchers. The vouchers will be received by everyone aged 16 or over, and will be issued in January. A total of €100 in vouchers will be received by every individual. €60 will have to be spent at restau- rants, while €40 on other services and goods. This will be the second round of vouchers received by families, with the first round being sent last July. In the first round of vouchers, government spent €44.6 million for the scheme. Minister Silvio Schembri had said that until September, 1.1 mil- lion red vouchers and 0.23 million blue vouchers had been used. VOUCHERS Government's voucher scheme extended Individuals to receive €100 each • €60 to be spent at restaurants, €40 must be spent on services and goods 9 maltatoday | TUESDAY • 20 OCTOBER 2020 BUDGET2021 Notice of Intention Gobinda Kharel (British Passport number 463832202) sole company director of Europe Recruitment Limted, a company registered under the laws of Malta bearing Company Registration Number C89241, having official Registered Office Address at B5's Business Center, Level1, Triq il-Burdnara Qormi, Malta in accordance with Article 3(2A)(a)(i) of Subsidiary Legislation 594.18 of the laws of Malta, are hereby declaring their intention to register for an Employment Agency licence in accordance to article 23 of the Employment and Training Services Act. The activities proposed to be carried out are the following: 1. Recruitment Consultancy 2. Interviewing, selection and placements of candidates in employment 3. Recruitment of persons from abroad to employment in Malta or in an EU member state 4. Recruitment of persons in Malta for employment in Malta or in an EU member state 5. Advertising of the filling of vacancies 6. Keeping a register of applicants for employment 7. CV writing and editing. Government requests state aid for national airline Design contest for tourism zones, MTA gets higher budget TOURISM GOVERNMENT has filed a for- mal state aid application with the European Commission in order to provide Air Malta with financial assistance. Finance Minister Edward Sci- cluna said government will look at helping the airline to recover losses garnered during the pan- demic. He said throughout the COV- ID-19 pandemic, Air Malta op- erated with a 'life line schedule' in order to ensure the country's connectivity with the rest of Eu- rope. It was also crucial in repatri- ating Maltese caught outside the country when lockdowns were being deployed across the world. In April, Air Malta forecasted €130 million in COVID-19 loss- es. The scale of losses represents the greatest challenge the na- tional airline will face, with government sources privy to the financial situation inside Air Malta saying they forecast a gradual return to business in 2021. Some €30 million will be lost just in ticket refunds, while an- other €100 million will be direct losses from COVID-19 costs. TOURISM has taken a battering as a result of the pandemic but the Malta Tourism Authoirty will see its budget increase to €95 million next year. The €10 million increase is part of govern- ment's strategy to try and rebuild the industry through incentives and marketing in foreign markets. Government wants to rebuild the conferences and incentives market that was a crucial seg- ment that helped reduce seasonality. A tourism strategy will be unveiled in the com- ing weeks that will target a sustainable and com- petitive sector based on quality tourism. The Foundation for Tourism Zone Develop- ment will see its budget allocation increase by €400,000 to reach €1 million in a bid to stimu- late a regeneration of tourism zones. Edward Scicluna said a design contest will be held next year for a holistic regeneration plan in different tourism zones. The Malta Film Commission, which also falls under the tourism ministry, will see its budget increase by a modest €100,000 to reach €1.4 million.