Welfare shows north-south differences

Di-Ve

by John Paul Cordina - editorial@di-ve.com

Current Affairs

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Sharp regional differences exist in the provision of social benefits, with high rates of welfare dependency around the Grand Harbour and in the south and relatively low ones in Malta’s north and west.
A National Statistics Office study on social security benefits published on Thursday showed that in 2008, 0.72 per cent of the Maltese population received unemployment benefits, which are payable to unemployed persons for a period of 156 days, while a further 1.3 per cent received unemployment assistance, which is granted to heads of households after the period for the unemployment benefit is elapsed.

However, the figure rises to 1 per cent and 2.17 per cent respectively in the Southern Harbour region, which includes Valletta, the 3 Cities and nearby localities.

In 2008, €1.54 million were spent on unemployment benefits, while €16.1 million were spent on unemployment assistance.

The region also accounted for the largest proportion of recipients of social assistance for single unmarried parents.

The lowest rate was recorded in Gozo and Comino, but the islands recorded the largest proportion of beneficiaries receiving the national minimum invalidity pension: 3.19 per cent of the population. The highest rate was registered in Għasri, were just over 5 per cent received this pension.

The lowest rate of people on unemployment benefits is found in the Northern and Western regions, which span from Mellieħa all the way down to Dingli and Siġġiewi.