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Employment contracts in Malta can be fixed-term or permanent, written or verbal. Employment contracts in Malta usually are written and in the local language. If the employment contract is oral, the employer still must provide the employee with the details of the employment in writing.

The employment contract must contain at least:

• the workplace,

• probation period,

• salary details,

• working hours and overtime, and

• termination notice period.

The standard work week in Malta is 40 to 48 hours, depending on the industry. An employer can ask an employee to work more than 48 hours per week, but the employee must consent. Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for refusing to work overtime. If the employee consents to working more than 48 hours a week, the employer must provide the daily and weekly rest periods established by law. Employees can withdraw consent to work more than 48 hours per week.

For most industries in Malta, overtime is regulated by the Wage Regulation Order (WRO). Employees not covered by the WRO are paid at a rate of 50% over the regular rate for work in excess of 40 hours a week, averaged over a four-week period or shift cycle determined by the employer.

In Malta, the public holidays are:

• New Year’s Day

• Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck

• Feast of Saint Joseph

• Good Friday

• Freedom Day

• Labor Day/May Day

• Sette Giugno

• Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

• The Feast of Mary’s Assumption

• The Feast of Our Lady of Victories

• Independence Day

• Feast of the Immaculate Conception

• Republic Day

• Christmas Day

Termination of employment can occur during the probation period, at the end of the contract term, by the employer (with or without cause) or by the employee. The probation period is six to 12 months unless otherwise agreed by the parties for a shorter period. Both parties can terminate the contract during this period without any reason, but notice of one week is required for employments that last for a month.

Both parties can terminate a contract for an indefinite term. The employer can terminate the employee for good and sufficient cause, redundancy or when retirement age is reached. If the employer decides to terminate the contract, notice is required and ranges between one week to 12 weeks depending on length of service.

Employees in Malta are entitled to a weekly minimum wage. Bonuses are mandatory in Malta. Employers pay bonuses at the end of June, December, March and September.