Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516098
15 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 FEBRUARY 2024 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Submit your application SENIOR EXECUTIVE (LEGAL & EU) Aġenzija għas-Servizzi tal-Qrati Prospective candidates must be in possession of: • possession of a recognised Master's qualification at MQF Level 7 (subject to a minimum of 90 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent), or a comparable professional qualification, in Laws, European Affairs or International Relations, plus two (2) years relevant work experience of which one (1) year must be in a management position; or • in possession of a recognised Bachelor's qualification at MQF Level 6 (subject to a minimum of 180 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, with regard to programmes commencing as from October 2003), or a comparable professional qualification, in Laws, European Affairs or International Relations, plus three (3) years relevant work experience of which one (1) year must be in a management position; or • in possession of fifteen (15) years relevant work experience, of which one (1) year must be related to the duties of this position; Candidates must also be proficient and able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in the Maltese and English languages; have good management skills, including a good sense of judgement and decision-making abilities, and; be of conduct which is appropriate to the post. This basic salary for this position (at 2024 rates) is equivalent to €37,464 per annum. The selected applicant shall also be entitled to a Communication Allowance, an Expense Allowance, a Monitoring Allowance, a Training Allowance and a Performance Bonus of up to 15% of the Basic Salary. This full-time position is on a 3-year definite contract and is subject to a one-year probationary period. Since the position of Senior Executive is a top management position, this falls under Regulation 7(4) (b)(i) of Subsidiary Legislation 452.81 entitled "Contracts of Service for a Fixed Term Regulations". Candidates are to submit their letter of application, their qualifications and experience in a Europass Curriculum Vitae Format, a copy of their relevant scanned certificates and a valid Police Conduct Certificate by e-mail on recruitment.courts@courtservices.mt. Further information and a comprehensive description of duties can be obtained by contacting the Court Services Agency on recruitment.courts@courtservices.mt. Applications will be received till Friday 1st March 2024 at 13:00 hrs. Eligibility JobsPlus Permit No.38/2024 MALTA'S outlay on social ben- efits and pensions has fallen from 30% of its government spending to 21.7% over an entire decade since 2013. The data, issued by the Central Bank of Malta, shows a gradual easing of benefits spending when compared to economic growth, with benefits in 2013 averaging just over 12% of GDP, and now down to 8.5%. It also shows that spending on pensions has effectively increased, with increases to pensioners grant- ed in almost every single Budget since 2016. This reflects the effect of meas- ures since 2013 that have boosted labour market participation, chief- ly by having more women enter employment after motherhood and retain more elderly workers past retirement, as well as a gradu- al increase in pensionable age, and the tapering of benefits to retain more claimants in jobs. At the same time, buoyant eco- nomic activity and tight labour market conditions contributed to lower spending on unemployment assistance, changing the composi- tion of social benefits. Spending on social benefits in- cludes pensions, unemployment benefits, child allowances, and the in-work benefit. Expenditure on benefits in kind mostly reflects the provision of goods such as med- icine, and services such as child- care, school transport and public transport. The share of outlays on unemployment assistance and cash benefits, excluding pensions, declined from around 25% of total benefit spending before 2013, to around 18% by 2022. On the other hand, spending on pensions rose from around 70% of total benefit spending to just over 71% by 2022. This is partly due to a series of increases in pensions, giv- en out every year since 2016. In the same period, the share of outlays on benefits in kind more than doubled from around 4.5% to just below 11%, mainly due to free school transport and the provision of free public transport to holders of the Tallinja Card. The Central Bank however says spending on social benefits will grow at a declining rate in the coming years, with the share of benefits to GDP falling from 8.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2026. "As a result, cash benefits ex- cluding pensions and unemploy- ment benefits, are set to amount to around 1.2% of GDP in 2026, down from 1.5% in 2022. Pen- sion expenditure is however set to broadly amount to just below 6% of GDP throughout the projection horizon." Beneficiaries are also set to grow at a broadly constant rate in the coming years, except in 2026 when growth is set to be slower. This is due to the coming into force of the final mandated increase in the re- tirement age, to 65 years. More people working, delayed retirement, eased benefits spend