Employment

There are several opportunities available for Maltese residents who need to find a house for primary residence. Anyone who lives on government properties or is looking to buy a first house should reach out to the Housing Authority; also, benefits are available to residents who have a disability.

When one starts in a position of employment they’ll start the probation period with their employer. The employee is then assessed, observed and reviewed by the employer. During this period of time the applicant can be let go without any assigned reason, with one week notice after one month of pay. The employee has the same options. Probation is at the very least paid minimum amounts requirements by law(EIRA section 36); wage can be negotiated as per usual.

Malta’s employment rate is one of the most impressive in the EU, with the third-lowest unemployment rate at only 4.1%. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of the Euro area is falling, though – it is currently 8.9%, after being 9% in August 2017 and 9.9% in September 2016, which is the lowest rate since 2009. Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, released figures stating that the overall EU employment rate is 7.5%, which is the lowest it has been since November 2008.

According to local law, all employees working a 40-hour week have a right to 192 hours of paid leave each year. That’s exactly 24 working days of annual leave, or 4 weeks and 4 days, assuming you work 8 hours daily and 5 days per week. In case your average time of regular work (overtime not included) is above or below 40 hours, your vacation leave should be adjusted in proportion. To read the official regulations from the Organization of Working Time Regulations, see L.N. 247/2003.