Parent benefit 2021

Abstract

COVID-19 cases in Malta began to increase in July 2020. Despite a brief reprise in November 2020, these began increasing again in December 2020 to levels previously unseen in Malta, with active cases reaching 3,000 in March 2021 for the first time and healthcare unions warning that the healthcare system was on the verge of collapse. Consequently, Government announced a range of new measures to reverse the number of COVID-19 cases. Amongst these measures, it was announced that schools would close from March 15 till April 11, 2021. Schooling at all levels could only take place remotely. This presented working parents of young children who were unable to work remotely with an issue, with some parents having to stop work and take unpaid leave in order to care for children. The Government therefore announced a social measure to support such families, termed the 'Parent Benefit'. Such a benefit had also been previously offered between 9 March 2020 and June 2020 - when schools had last been closed.