Empleo - Workplace Lawyers

12/07/2026

➡️ Did you know you only have 3 working days to appeal a refused work permit application?

✈️ You moved to Malta for work.

📄 Your employer withdrew your work permit application.

❌ Now you're told you're in an irregular position.

Unfortunately, this happens more often than people think.

A recent Court of Appeal judgment highlighted the importance of fairness for third-country nationals. The Court found that an appeal should not simply be rejected as being filed late without first establishing when the applicant was actually notified of the decision. It also recognised the difficult position of workers whose applications are withdrawn after relocating to Malta, through no fault of their own.

If your work permit has been refused or your employer has withdrawn your application, don't wait. Seek legal advice as soon as possible. Your rights may still be protected.

📩 If you need guidance, feel free to get in touch.

08/06/2026

The Court of Appeal case reported by MaltaToday today raises some important points on Malta’s labour migration process.

Whatever one’s views on labour migration, the points coming across are important and worth to take seriously.

Malta has every right to regulate access to its labour market. That is not really the issue.

The issue is what happens to people when the process becomes unclear, when decisions are not properly understood, or when a worker ends up carrying the consequences of matters that may be outside their control.

A few points stood out to me:

➡️ When a refusal is issued, the person affected should be able to understand why.

➡️ If the refusal is based on an objection or information from another authority, that information should be clear enough for the person to respond.

➡️ An appeal should not feel like a process that exists only on paper. It should give the person a real chance to challenge what happened.

➡️ Employers also have a role to play. Recruiting third-country nationals is not just about submitting forms. It carries responsibility towards the person who is relying on that employment.

➡️ Perhaps most importantly, behind every application there is a person — often someone who has left their country, spent money, trusted the process, and come to Malta believing they are doing things properly.

None of this means that rules should be ignored.

It means that rules should be applied clearly, fairly and with an awareness of the human impact.

A firm system and a fair system should not be seen as opposites.

They should go hand in hand.

​A court has deplored the way foreign workers are getting stuck in bureaucratic processes with disregard to the human aspect

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