Self-employed undergoing IVF are set to receive a total of 100 hours of government-paid leave in the 2025 Budget, Prime Minister Robert Abela said Friday.

The 100 hours of leave, paid for by the state, are divided into 60 hours for the mother and 40 hours for the other self-employed partner, Abela said at a meeting with the Chamber of SME's on Friday.

Abela explained that self-employed mothers will receive 60 hours of paid leave whilst the second parent who is also self-employed is entitled to 40 hours during the IVF cycle.

Abela said that small and medium enterprises are the backbone of Malta's economy and for that reason, government finds it important that its stance on Malta's competitiveness, including in the European fora, as part of the EU's Common Market.

"One size fits all is something we strongly oppose and our approach, even on the European level, is always not to put the burden on you to obtain changes but offer the policy of incentive," he said.