Restaurants and hotels call for wage supplement to continue into 2022

Dec 12 2021

As the new year draws ever nearer, hotels and restaurants have called on the government to continue paying the wage subsidies which covered their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) issued a statement saying that the industry would suffer from ‘irreparable damage’ if wage subsidies which provide life-blood for thousands of workers are halted. The MHRA is urging the government to extend the subsidies until at least March of 2022.

A Brief History:

First introduced by the government in March 2020, the COVID-19 wage supplement was first introduced to stop bulk lay-offs from business which are forced to halt due to the height of the pandemic.

When non-essential businesses were ordered shut, the scheme was rolled out and is estimated to have cost around €44 million per month. The government claims that tens of thousands of jobs cross most economic sectors were saved due to this initiative.

Later in July, a tapering-off plan was presented to the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development during a meeting with the government. The plan foresees the end to wage subsidy payouts by the end of this year.

Back to this closing month of 2021, the MHRA commended the government for its aid to date. However, it highlighted how it is evident that there are still some long hard months ahead.

‘MHRA appreciates that the government would like us to do more, but we do need to stay within the confines of what’s affordable and sustainable under realistic business conditions.’

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Photo Source: Robert Abela FB, BusinessNow

Here are the pharmacies opening today 9am to noon

Pharmacies opening today 9am until 12pm and 4pm until 7pm

Dec 12 2021

Find your nearest pharmacy below:

Hamrun: Brown’s Pharmacy, 706, St Joseph High Road;

San Gwann: Brown’s Pharmacy, 92-94, Mensija Road;

Mellieha: Brown’s Pharmacy, 69, George Borg Olivier Street;

Valletta: Empire Pharmacy, 77, Old Theatre Street;

Santa Venera: Fatima Pharmacy, 82, Ferrovija Street;

Birkirkara: Pharmaplus, Ganu Street;

Msida: Deby’s Pharmacy, 1 Misrah il-Barrieri;

Sliema: Norman’s Pharmacy, 70, San Frangisk Street;

Naxxar: Pillbox Pharmacy, 63, Bjad Street;

Paola: St Monica Pharmacy, 157, Santa Monika Street;

Vittoriosa: Milia’s Pharmacy, Cottonera Street;

Marsascala: San Gwakkin Pharmacy, 1 Sant Anna Street;

Ghaxaq: Beta Pharmacy, 50/52, Santa Marija Street;

Safi: Safi Pharmacy, St John Street c/w Bieb il-Garra Street;

Siggiewi: Menelo Pharmacy, Tabib Nikol Zammit Street;

Rabat: Ideal Pharmacy, 63, Main Street;

Malta International Airport: The ‘8 Till Late Pharmacy open everyday from 8am to 10pm

Gozo: 9 am to noon

Victoria: Abela Pharmacy, Bellavista Court, George Borg Olivier Street;

Gharb: Ta’ Pinu Pharmacy, Frangisk Portelli Street.

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Here are the 10 exceptions to Malta’s public mask-wearing rule

Dec 11 2021

This week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne announced that as of Saturday, masks must be worn in open public spaces to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Malta. However, there are a number of exceptions to the public mask-wearing rule.

Masks can be removed in public for a number of reasons. The first reason is during high-intensity physical activity and exercise. Kindergarten students are allowed to remove their masks while in the classroom, as are individuals who are communicating with others who require lip-reading to understand. Furthermore, given a provision of at least two meters between individuals, official public speaking allows individuals to remove their masks. Cases such as lectures, lessons or anything of the sort within academic institutions do not constitute as public speaking.

Masks can also be removed for identification purposes in places such as banks, airports or otherwise. The same goes for cosmetic treatments or services which involve the face or mouth as well as in cases of individuals who require medication. Individuals seated at establishments which serve food or drink can also remove their masks.

Masks can also be removed during the consumption of food or drink and while smoking. The only new exception is that individuals are not allowed to remove their masks in bathing areas after a wave of controversy which led the exception to be introduced in June 2021.

Anyone caught not following the mask-wearing measures may be subject to a fine of as much as €100.

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Maltese wonderchild Haley Bugeja chosen as one of the top female footballers under 20

Dec 11 2021

Maltese football prodigy Haley Bugeja, who plays for Sassuolo in Italy’s female Serie A division, has been chosen as one of the best 11 female football players under 20 years old by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

The list hosts some of the best players from some of the best clubs in the world such as Barcelona’s Catalina Coll. Bugeja has been playing for Sassuolo since 2020, with the team currently standing in second place in Italy’s top female football division, only 6 points below Juventus.

Haley has been making local and foreign headlines since breaking the international football scene, scoring a number of historic goals with Sassuolo and the Maltese National team.

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