Both you and your employer will pay social security payments. The rate depends on your age and wage. You can also read more about the official tax rates in Malta here. Non residents (i.e. individuals relocating to Malta) will be subject to a higher tax rate for the first 183 days. This will be partially refunded via tax rebate, after this timeframe elapses. To understand how the local salary is split, read our Salaries section.
The average working week is 40 hours, with 48 hours the legal maximum (unless the employee consents to more) with the additional eight hours usually paid as overtime. Office hours are usually 8am to 5pm (public sector offices sometimes have different hours, especially in summer).
Annual leave is typically 25 days (200 hours) for full time staff, with 14 public holidays. Only a portion of the holiday can be paid in lieu. There are additional special leave entitlements granted by the government.
Probation is usually six months, unless otherwise agreed with your employer. High wage jobs (classed as those earning twice the minimum wage) might have a probation of a year. Employers don’t need to give a reason to fire you during probation, and similarly you are not obliged to provide a reason either.
You are entitled to a notice period if you are made redundant, and if your post becomes available again within a year, you should also be reemployed. Redundancy should be on a ‘last in, first out’ basis.
The notice periods for both parties depend on how long you have been employed. The Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) provides an extensive list here but generally speaking, if you’ve worked for less than a month, there is no notice period; up to 6 months, it’s a week; up to two years, it’s 2 weeks; and up to 4 years, it’s 4 weeks. Longer periods can be agreed by both parties.
If you’re from the EU, EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland, then get ready to embrace pastizzis, festa fireworks and beautiful beaches – you have the right to live and work in Malta. Click here for details on what paperwork you’ll need to do get an E-residence permit.
If you’re a Third Country National (TCN - i.e. the rest of the world), things are a little more complicated. You will need your employer to apply for a work permit for you. Click here to find out more.
What happens if I am sick?Generally, you can take 2 weeks of sick leave per year, but it varies depending on where you work. You’ll need to provide a medical certificate. After 2 weeks, you may be entitled to sickness benefit from social security.
Can I get maternity leave?Women are entitled to 14 paid weeks of maternity leave and 4 weeks unpaid.
What should I wear to work?This depends very much on the place of work. Business dress is still the norm (suit and tie for men, business suit for women; jackets are often abandoned due to the heat) especially in sectors such banking and law. Tech, iGaming, marketing and branding firms often have a more relaxed dress code. If in doubt, check with your employer.
What are salaries like in Malta?Salaries might be lower than elsewhere, but there are some notable exceptions, such as the gaming industry. However, it is possible to live quite cheaply in Malta, so a skilled foreign worker will likely end up with as much, if not more, disposable income as they would in other countries, especially compared to much of Northern Europe. Check out the site salariesinmalta.com for a guide or read up more here.