In a statement issued by Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity yesterday announced the signing of a social security agreement between the Maltese and New Zealand governments. The agreement was signed by the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity the Hon Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and the New Zealand Minister for Social Development the Hon Paula Bennett.
This agreement facilitates the granting of social benefits to entitled persons in case of movement between the two countries.
The social benefits covered by this agreement are retirement and widows pensions in Malta as well as pensions paid to retired persons and to veterans in New Zealand.
In this way, by virtue of this agreement that was signed after 12 years of negotiations, a person may move between the two countries without losing their pension.
During a news conference after the signing of the agreement, the Hon Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that there are many similarities between the two countries. She said that Malta wants to reach the same levels as New Zealand, particularly as far as an integrated social policy is concerned.
About two thousand Maltese citizens who live in New Zealand and may benefit from the agreement.
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Iffirmat ftehim dwar is-sigurtà soċjali bejn Malta u New Zealand
Nhar it-Tnejn 8 ta’ Lulju l-Ministru għall-Familja u Solidarjetà Soċjali l-Onor. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca flimkien mal-Ministru għall-Iżvilupp Soċjali ta’ New Zealand l-Onor. Paula Bennett iffirmaw ftehim dwar is-sigurtà soċjali.
Dan il-ftehim jiffaċilità l-għoti tal-benefiċċji soċjali lill-persuni intitolati f’każ ta’ ċaqliq bejn iż-żewġ pajjiżi.
Il-benefiċċji soċjali koperti f’dan il-ftehim huma l-pensjonijiet tal-irtirar u tar-romol f’Malta kif ukoll il-pensjonijiet imħallsa lill-persuni rtirati u lill-veterani fi New Zealand.
B’hekk, permezz ta’ dan il-ftehim li ġie iffirmat wara tnax-il sena, persuna tista’ tiċċaqlaq bejn iż-żewġ pajjiżi mingħajr ma’ titlef il-pensjoni.
Waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet wara l-iffirmar tal-ftehim, l-Onor. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca qalet li jeżistu ħafna similaritajiet bejn il-pajjiżi. Qalet li Malta trid tilħaq l-istess livelli ta’ New Zealand, b’mod partikolari fejn tidħol politika soċjali integrata.
Fi New Zealand jgħixu mal-elfejn ċittadin Malti, li issa jistgħu jibbenefikaw mill-ftehim iffirmat.