International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award for Europe 2024

The process of automating and digitising the granting of the In-Work Benefit was recognised and rewarded by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) at its European Regional Forum which met in Porto, Portugal between the 14 an 16 of April 2024.

Malta was awarded a Certificate of Merit with Special Mention for its submission entitled ‘Digitalisation of the In-Work Benefit Scheme: A key labour market incentive – The Maltese innovative approach in combating non-take-up through process transformation and automation’.

Through this automation, which was done among others thanks to the work of MITA, not only those eligible for the In-Work Benefit no longer need to apply, but the number of those eligible has grown by almost four times from around 6,000 to 23,000, which led to this benefit being received by practically all the families who are entitled to it.

Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General of ISSA, in a letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights Mark Musu’ among others wrote, ‘I would like to express my sincere congratulations to you and your colleagues on this important achievement for your institution’.

The Maltese submission stood out among the 119 submissions from 40 ISSA partner institutions from 26 European countries, so much so that Mr. Mark Musu’ was invited to make a presentation of this innovative initiative during this European Regional Forum.

In addition, Mr. Musu’ was also a key guest, together with representatives from Switzerland, Spain, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan, to speak at the High-Level Social Security Policy Symposium for Europe that will be closing this same Forum in Porto.

Asked to comment on this, Permanent Secretary Mark Musu’ expressed his great satisfaction that the great efforts being made by the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, through its departments and entities in order to modernize and simplify more and more its processes and services, they are being noticed and recognized by this largest organization for the institutions, departments and government agencies of social security in the world.

Together with Mr. Musu’ in Porto there were also the General Directors Alexia Vella and George Cremona and the Consultant Joseph Cachia.