In the upcoming Budget, self-employed parents undergoing IVF treatment will be eligible for up to 100 hours of government-funded paid leave during their treatment cycle.
Prime Minister Robert Abela announced this during a consultation meeting with the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises ahead of the 2025 Budget.
The meeting took place at NM Group in Naxxar, where the Prime Minister also met with the company’s management and staff.
During the session, the Prime Minister and the Chamber discussed proposals for the next Budget. Dr. Abela explained that self-employed mothers will now receive 60 hours of paid leave, while the second parent, if also self-employed, will be entitled to an additional 40 hours during the IVF cycle.
Speaking about small and medium businesses, Prime Minister Abela emphasised their role as the backbone of the economy. He stressed the importance of maintaining Malta’s competitiveness in the EU Single Market and taking a clear position in European discussions.
“We strongly oppose a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Our aim, even at the European level, is to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on businesses and instead offer incentive-based policies,” said the Prime Minister.
He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg, Ministers Clayton Bartolo, Miriam Dalli, Clyde Caruana, Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul, and Mark Mallia, Head of Secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister.
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