Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1418522
13 maltatoday | TUESDAY • 12 OCTOBER 2021 BUDGET2022 CHILDCARE CULTURE AND ARTS BLOOD DONATION FREE childcare services will be extended for parents who work late hours, shift and weekends. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said a number of sectors are facing a worker shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic's im- pact. He said the problem is being experienced by a number of workers around the world, and government looks to address it through this measure. Caruana said a number of local workers do not enter these sectors due to the lack of childcare services during work hours, and this measure looks to address that issue. Free childcare during weekends, late hours announced Income tax rates for artists to go down to 7.5% Finance Minister says measure looks to address worker shortage faced by a number of sectors LUKE VELLA THE income tax rate for artists, come 2022 will be of 7.5%. A new mechanism will be intro- duced through which the income of artists, for tax purposes, will be calcu- lated over an average of three years. A fund of €1 million will be allocat- ed to a guarantee scheme for inde- pendent artistic activities, so losses incurred by producers and promot- ers due to unforeseen circumstances, could be recovered. A €2 million fund will be allocated for seats that could not be sold for artistic activities, due to COVID-19 restrictions. A €2 million fund will be offered for independent artistic projects under the realm of the Malta Arts Council. For tax purposes, artistic income will be calculated over a three-year average AN investment will be made into the set- ting up of a new blood donation unit, as well as a specialised centre for the blood donation, storage and processing of stem cells. A third Cardiac catherisation Suite will be set up, and investments will be made into the Emergency department and the Medical Imaging Department. Until the project of the building of a new hospital for the Psychiatric care is ready, a temporary facility will be rented to offer the services. Works on the modernising of the wards at Mount Carmel hospital will continue and the services offered by the hospital will be extended. Remote Patient Monitoring for the regular monitoring of blood sugar levels of type I diabetes patients, will be ex- tended for 17 to 21-year-olds. New blood donation unit to be set up