At a meeting between the Tourism Business Section executive committee of The Malta Chamber and Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, the former stressed the need for the COVID-19 wage supplement to be extended beyond the current timeframe for operators in the tourism industry.

Currently, the wage supplement has been extended until September for those in the updated ‘Annex A’ – that is companies working in sectors deemed worst impacted by the coronavirus.

In a statement issued by the Malta Chamber, it said that Minister Farrugia Portelli vouched the Government will continue to assess the situation as it progresses.

The meeting between the two sides was held with the aim of the executive committee communicating challenges to the tourism industry during these unprecedented times.

Chairperson of the Executive Committee, Mr Ian Fitzpatrick, reiterated the fact that communication between the Malta Chamber and the authorities needs to remain consistent.

Executive Committee members present for the meeting were Ian Fitzpatrick, Alan Arrigo, Genevieve Abela, Iain Tonna, Louis Olivieri, Ivan Mifsud and Kevin Vella. Minister Farrugia Portelli was accompanied by Malta Tourism Authority CEO Mr Johann Buttigieg and permanent Secretary Mr Ronald Mizzi.