On 1 June, two new financial aid measures, the Gozo Back Office Employment Refund Scheme and the Gozo Business Relocation Scheme, have been launched by the Ministry for Gozo. The aim of the measures is to encourage businesses to operate from or partially/fully relocate to Gozo and attract more private investment towards Gozo, thereby creating quality jobs therein. 

Gozo Back Office Employment Refund Scheme 

The aid under this scheme relates to; 

• newly employed staff as from 1 January 2020, carrying out back office operations based in Gozo; or  
• staff already employed with the undertaking who, as from 1 January 2020, carry out back office operations based in Gozo.

Eligible employers can benefit from a partial refund of the salary cost of employees carrying out back office operations in Gozo, up to a maximum of €8,700 per employee, spread over 3 years, capped at €35,000 a year. The rate of reimbursement is calculated according to the wage bracket in which the employee’s wage falls.

Applications are open and must be submitted by 31 December 2020.

The terms and conditions are set out in the Guidelines for the Gozo Back Office Employment Refund Scheme on the website of the Ministry for Gozo.

Gozo Business Relocation Scheme

Eligible companies can benefit from;

- A partial reimbursement of expenses incurred for the relocation of business-related equipment and material to Gozo. 

• An engagement of a minimum of 10 full-time employees within the first month is required. 
•  The rate of reimbursement depends on the number of employees engaged within the first month, up to a maximum grant of €3,750.

- A financial grant serving as an establishment package relieving the operator from expenses related to establishing operational functions in Gozo.

•  This grant is based on the number of employees engaged, with each employee entitling the employer to €1,000. Therefore, the minimum amount granted would be €10,000 capped at a maximum of €40,000.

Business proposals submitted with fewer than 10 full-time employees engaged but more than 5 full-time employees recruited, shall be eligible should the Ministry deem the entity of the investment as one of additional value. In such a case, 20% reimbursement rate applies under the movement of business-related equipment and material, and €1,000 per employee to establish operational functions in Gozo.

The employees working in Gozo must be engaged for a minimum duration of 3 years. 

Applications are open and must be submitted by 25 September 2020.

The terms and conditions are set out in the Guidelines for the Gozo Business Relocation Scheme on the website of the Ministry for Gozo.

These two measures are part of a set of measures pertaining to the fund entitled Gozo Business Scheme. They follow the recent launch of the Gozo Teleworking Scheme, aimed at encouraging teleworking facilities to Gozitan resident employees.

Should you have any queries or wish to discuss further, please send an email to covid@kpmg.com.mt.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.