Empleo - Workplace Lawyers

01/04/2026

The Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment has announced the introduction of a mandatory course on Maltese culture and language for third-country nationals working in Malta.

The course will cover:

• Maltese culture and traditions
• Civic participation and legal awareness
• Personal and professional development
• Maltese and English language skills

Successfully passing the exam will allow eligible workers to apply for longer permit renewals (2 years instead of 1), while certain higher-skilled workers may qualify for permits of up to 3 years, depending on the applicable scheme.

This forms part of the broader Malta Labour Migration Policy — aimed not only at strengthening the labour market, but also at supporting meaningful integration of workers into Maltese society.

Further details are expected in due course.

For now, you can read more here:

The quiz is part of the government's new Labour Migration Policy

28/03/2026

The DIER Annual Report 2025 shows that in 2025, a total of €1,389,933.98 in unpaid wages and payments was recovered and returned to workers through the intervention of the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER). This significant recovery was the outcome of 1,058 investigations carried out by the Department’s Inspectorate over the course of the year.

The issues flagged are not new — unpaid wages, no COLA or bonuses, incorrect overtime, unjustified deductions, failures around basic entitlements.

The report notes that such irregularities were particularly prevalent in specific sectors, namely construction, care, hospitality, cleaning, and employment agencies. In many instances, the Department successfully resolved cases through mediation (closed "amicably"), though 188 cases were referred to court in 2025.

These issues were particularly common in sectors like construction, care, hospitality, cleaning, and employment agencies.

Together with the Migration Policy, the shift is clear.
More scrutiny, more follow-up, more action.

This is not a system that waits for complaints anymore.Compliance with employment law — and now also migration policy — is no longer just about avoiding claims or issues down the line.

Employers are being assessed on how they operate — their workforce, their practices, their track record.

And many are still underestimating this.

Because the risk today is not just a claim or a fine.

It’s the inability to bring in or retain the workforce you depend on.

Report may be accessed below:

04/03/2026

Employers Alert:

Avoid Delays in Work Permit Applications!

As per the new labour migration policy, all relevant work permit applications now require proper job advertisements. We’ve noticed some employers are still unclear about the requirements. Please take note:

✅ New Single Permit Applications – Advertise the job on Jobsplus or EURES for 3 weeks within 2 months before applying.

✅ KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card, Skilled Occupation List applicants – Advertisement period: 2 weeks in jobsplus or EURES.

⚠️ Exemptions: Applications do not require job advertisement for:
• Health sector roles
• Elderly and disability care
• Regulator-endorsed cases
• Sportspersons
• Change-of-employer applications

💡 Note: Identità will only accept job advertisements posted on Jobsplus and EURES. Job postings on social media will not be accepted.

Following these rules is crucial to avoid unnecessary delays or rejection of your applications. Please ensure your job postings comply before submitting your work permit request.

📌 Stay informed, stay compliant, and make your hiring process smoother under the updated labour migration policy!

For further guidance contact us:
📩 [email protected]
📞 +356 2034 0230

02/03/2026

From 1 March 2026, the Pre-Departure Course certificate will be verified for new work permit applications where the applicant is still abroad.

This means that foreign workers will need to complete the required training before travelling to Malta as part of the application process.

💡 If you are:
✔️ an employer planning to recruit from overseas, or
✔️ a prospective employee applying from abroad
make sure this new requirement is considered early to avoid delays.

Need guidance on how this may affect your application or recruitment plans?
📩 Contact us — we’ll be happy to help.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲

As from 1 March 2026, the Pre-Departure Course certificate will be verified for new and still abroad work permit applications.

Read more 👉🏻 https://shorturl.at/bWnhk

20/02/2026

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 – Full–𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁

Love helping people? Naturally organised? Good at keeping things on track? You might be just who we’re looking for.

Empleo is a boutique law firm focusing on workplace and migration issues. We provide practical, personalised legal support to both employers and individuals going through workplace challenges and relocation processes.

We are looking for a Full-Time Admin Assistant to join our growing team and help keep our daily operations organised, efficient, and client-focused.

What you’ll be doing:
• Handling initial client communication by email, phone and in person
• Coordinating appointments and managing schedules
• Organising and Keeping documents, records, and files in order
• Helping with general admin tasks like logging invoices and tracking receipts
• Supporting lawyers and team members with daily organisation and small internal tasks
• Helping ensure smooth communication with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds

You’ll enjoy this role if you:
• Have some experience in admin, office support or client-facing roles
• Are confident, warm, and professional when communicating with clients
• Are detail-oriented and like getting things done properly
• Communicate clearly and kindly
• Are comfortable with spreadsheets and digital tools
• Enjoy working in a team and supporting others
• Have a connection to the migration community in Malta.

The Details:
• Position: Full-Time Administrative Assistant
• Location: Mainly office-based with some remote options
• Start: ASAP

If you’re someone who takes pride in keeping things running smoothly and wants to be part of something meaningful, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply:
Send your CV and a short note about yourself to [email protected] by not later than 7th March 2025

22/01/2026

Happy to share that our founder, Dr Mariella Baldacchino, will be participating as a speaker at the 4th Edition of Employment Law Insights, organised by FHRD.

She will be addressing Managing Long-Term Sickness – Legal & Practical Considerations, a topic that continues to raise complex legal and operational challenges for employers.

📍 The Xara Lodge, Rabat
🗓 Friday, 23 January 2026

10/11/2025

📢 Minister Announces New Pre-Departure Course for Foreign Workers in Malta

From next year, third-country nationals will need to complete a pre-departure course and pass a basic test about life in Malta before being granted a work permit.

Those already in Malta may also take the course and, if they pass, could qualify for longer-term permits.

The course will cover:
• Worker rights and obligations
• Maltese culture and everyday norms
• Basic Maltese language phrases

👉 What this means for employers:

Recruitment and onboarding processes will need to ensure workers complete this requirement before relocation or employment begins.

At Empleo, we can guide both employers and employees through the updated compliance steps and permit applications.

📩 [email protected] |

Those who fail will not be allowed to work in Malta

27/10/2025

📢 Court Reaffirms Strict Rules for TCN Permit & Residency Appeals in Malta

A recent court ruling has made it clear: when appealing a refusal or revocation of a residence or work permit, the third-country national must personally file the appeal — not the employer or company representative.

The Court also underlined that:
⚖️ Procedural errors (like naming the wrong respondent or missing deadlines) can invalidate an appeal.
🕒 Expired or irregular permits cannot be “fixed” after the fact, even if the delay was due to employer error.

👉 For employers and HR teams, this reinforces the need for proper compliance and proactive monitoring of TCN status.

Court reaffirms strict procedural requirements governing appeals by third-country nationals (TCNs) in work permit and residency cases, ruling appeals must be personally filed by the applicants and not their employers

01/10/2025

📢 Migration Policy Watch – 1 October 2025

From today, the next phase of Malta’s Labour Migration Policy comes into effect:

📊 Minimum Termination Rates – Employers with high unjustified termination levels (65% small, 60% medium, 55% large) will have new TCN applications refused.

📄 Vacancy Requirement – Job roles must now be advertised on the Jobsplus/EURES portal before applying for TCNs.

💳 Salary Payments – All wages for TCNs engaged from 1 August must be paid electronically via licensed institutions.

🛂 Interim Permits – Visa-waiver nationals applying within 60 days may stay in Malta while permits are processed; later applicants must wait outside Schengen.

🕊 Victims of Trafficking – Exempt from fees and eligible for a 1-year renewable permit.

⚖️ Another key step towards a fairer, more transparent and controlled labour migration system in Malta.

hashtag

25/09/2025

🚨 Important update for employers & third-country workers in Malta 🚨

From 1 October 2025, a newly approved law will prohibit paying new third-country national (TCN) employees in cash 💸 .

Here’s what you should know:
✅ Only electronic or bank transfers allowed
Employers must pay via bank / electronic transfer through accredited/licensed financial institutions. Revolut accounts will be accepted.

✅ Applies only to new employment contracts from 1 October

✅ Why the change?
This measure strengthens enforcement of fair wages, ensures tax compliance, and reduces discrepancies between documented and actual payments. Times of Malta

🛠 What this means for HR, payroll & business leaders
📌 Review your onboarding processes for new hires who are third-country nationals
📌Update payroll and accounting systems to ensure seamless transfers
📌Communicate early with employees about the change to avoid confusion
📌Prepare for tighter scrutiny around wage compliance

This is a positive step toward increased transparency and fairness in the labour market.

As with any legislative shift, it’s best to stay ahead of the curve.
If you’re in HR, payroll, or compliance: have you already begun preparations?

Parliament approves new law through all stages

10/09/2025

A useful reminder by Jobsplus

✅ Stay Compliant, Avoid Penalties!
Employers, remember that keeping your employee records up to date isn’t just good practice, it’s the law.

📋 As per CAP 594 – Jobsplus, you’re required to keep accurate employee information.

⚠️ Don’t risk penalties. Make sure your records are always updated.