Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri has announced the extension of the 2020 Gozo Employment Refund Scheme.

The main objective of this scheme, which is a key measure of the budget, is to drive the creation of sustainable jobs in Gozo on a full-time basis.

For this, Minister Camilleri stated that enterprises and companies in Gozo that generate new employment with a minimum contract of 3 years will benefit from a salary reimbursement of up to €6,000 over a period of 3 years. While sustaining employment, 50% of the reimbursement is made in the third year so as to secure long-term employment, it was said.

Here the minister explained that, "This scheme is operated on an annual basis. Just last year we launched the same extension for the years 2018 and 2019. In total, in the last 3 years, we have received over 400 applications."

"We are announcing this a few days after official statistics showed that in Gozo, in June, only 136 people registered for unemployment. Reducing the unemployment rate in Gozo to the lowest levels in history is a clear part of the government's plan," he said.

The Director for Tourism and Economic Development within the Ministry for Gozo, Ronald Sultana, said that those eligible to submit their applications are companies that, since 1 January 2020, have generated employment in Gozo, and that have the same employee or employees still engaged with the same company without any period of termination of employment.

Employees must be awarded an employment contract with the minimum of years as requested or be on an indefinite contract.

Finally, Minister Camilleri encouraged those Gozitan enterprises and companies that are eligible to apply so as not to miss this opportunity. Applications will remain open until 31 December 2021.

For more information one can contact the Directorate of Tourism and Economic Development at the Ministry for Gozo which administers this scheme, via email [email protected] or telephone number 22100285.