Your Rights
at Work.
A simple guide for young adults working, training, or starting out in Malta.
B1 / B2Starting your first job? Working part-time while you study? Doing an internship or summer work This guide is for you.
It explains what your boss must do, what you must do, and what to do if something feels wrong — in clear English, with practical tips for real life in Malta.
Use the tabs above to jump to any section. There are six chapters — read them in order, or pick the one you need most.
What’s inside
On your own: read at your own pace and try the discussion questions in your head.
In class or with a friend: work through one chapter at a time, talk about the scenarios, and share what you would do.
Your contract & your basic rights
What every job in Malta should give you — on paper.
In Malta, every job needs a written statement of employment. Your boss must give you this within 7 days of your first day. It can be on paper or by email — but you must be able to save it and print it.
What your contract must include
- Your job title and what you will do
- Your pay (gross amount) and when you get paid
- Your working hours and any overtime rules
- Holiday days, sick leave, and other leave
- Probation period (if there is one)
- Notice period — how much warning before the job ends
- Start date (and end date for fixed-term jobs)
- The full name and address of your employer
Always ask to take the contract home before you sign. Read it slowly. If a word is unclear, look it up or ask. A good employer will not pressure you to sign on the spot.
Pay & hours
- You must be paid at least every 4 weeks.
- You must get a payslip showing your hours, pay, and any deductions.
- Overtime rules depend on your contract or sector — check before you say yes to extra hours.
For 2026, full-time workers (40 hours per week) get 27 paid holiday days. Part-time workers get the same — but on a pro-rata basis (you get a smaller amount, based on your hours).
Sick leave & other leave
You can take time off if you are sick. For most jobs, you have about 12 fully paid sick days a year. If you are sick for longer, you usually need a medical certificate from your doctor.
You also have rights to maternity leave, paternity leave (10 days for new fathers), and parental leave. If a close family member is seriously ill, you can take up to 5 days carers’ leave.
Save every payslip and a copy of your contract in a folder (paper or digital). If a problem ever comes up, this folder is gold.
Safety & fair treatment
You have the right to be safe — and to be treated equally.
Health & safety: not optional
Your boss has a legal duty to keep you safe at work. This is not a favour — it is the law. The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) makes sure employers follow the rules.
Your boss must
- Train you for your job, for free
- Give you safe equipment and PPE (helmets, gloves, etc.)
- Tell you about hazards in your workplace
- Have a first-aid plan and emergency exits
- Listen if you report a danger
You should not
- Pay for your own safety equipment
- Do tasks you have not been trained for
- Work in conditions that are clearly dangerous
- Stay silent about a hazard you see
- Skip safety rules to “save time”
If something is seriously dangerous, you have the right to refuse the work until it is made safe. This is not the same as refusing a task you simply don’t like — it has to be a real safety risk.
Fair treatment: discrimination is illegal
It is against the law for an employer to treat you worse because of:
Protected things in Maltese law
- Your gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
- Your race, skin colour, or where you (or your family) come from
- Your religion or beliefs
- Your age
- A disability or health condition
- Being pregnant, or having children / family responsibilities
- Being a member of a trade union
- Your political opinions
This rule covers everything: hiring, pay, training, promotion, daily treatment, and how a job ends.
Harassment is not “just a joke”
Harassment is when someone makes you feel uncomfortable, humiliated, or unsafe with words, gestures, messages, or pictures. It includes:
- Comments about your body, looks, or accent
- Sexual jokes, requests, or unwanted touching
- Bullying or making someone the target of “team jokes”
- Rude messages, photos, or memes about you
Use the “reasonable person” test: would a normal person feel offended, humiliated, or scared by this behaviour If yes — it doesn’t matter that the other person calls it “a joke.” It can still be harassment.
How to speak up
Step by step — what to do when something is wrong.
Speaking up can feel scary, especially in your first job. But Maltese law protects you when you report a problem in good faith. Here is a simple plan.
Write it down
Note the date, time, what happened, what was said, and who else saw it. Keep emails, screenshots, and messages. Memory fades — notes don’t.
Talk to someone inside the company
Speak to your manager, or HR, or another trusted person. Many workplaces have a written complaint process — ask for it. Try to put your concern in writing too (email is fine).
Choose the right authority outside the company
If the problem is not solved — or the problem is the manager — go to the right authority outside (see the cards below).
Know the deadline
For the Industrial Tribunal, you have only 4 months from when the problem happened to file your case. Don’t wait too long.
Get free advice
Trade unions, the Citizens’ Advice service, or the authorities themselves can give you free guidance. You don’t need a lawyer to start.
Who to contact
You are protected if you report a problem honestly. Maltese law (the Whistleblower Act) makes it illegal for your boss to punish you for raising a real concern.
Red flags & healthy boundaries
How to spot trouble early — and protect your space.
Most jobs are fine. But it’s smart to know the warning signs. If you spot one of these, slow down, ask questions, and talk to someone you trust.
Red flags before you start a job
- “We’ll do the contract later” — and “later” never comes
- You are asked to work several “trial days” with no pay
- The boss asks to keep your ID card or passport (this is not legal)
- The pay is only in cash, with no payslip
- The job description keeps changing
- You are pushed to sign on the spot, without reading
Red flags once you’ve started
- You are told to work extra hours “off the clock” (no pay, no record)
- You are punished after a small complaint — bad shifts, silent treatment
- Personal questions that have nothing to do with work (your dating life, religion, body)
- Pressure to socialise, drink, or attend events outside work
- Comments on your appearance or clothes that make you uncomfortable
- Missing safety equipment, broken machines, no training
- Other people leaving the company suddenly and silently
Healthy boundaries 101
A boundary is a line that separates what is OK from what is not OK for you. Healthy boundaries at work are normal, expected, and protect both sides. You can say “no” politely — and a good employer will respect it.
Healthy & normal
- Feedback about your work, in private
- Clear separation of work hours and free time
- Voluntary social events you can skip
- Respect for your culture, religion, and family
- Privacy about your personal data
Not OK — even if “everyone does it”
- Comments on your body or clothes
- Messages from a manager late at night about non-urgent things
- Pressure to drink, party, or be someone you’re not
- “Jokes” about your accent, race, or religion
- Sharing your private info with others
Ask yourself three questions:
1. Would I be OK if everyone heard what was said 2. Is this happening only to me, or to people like me 3. Do I feel smaller or scared after?
One “yes” is enough to talk to someone.
Real situations
Read these stories — what would you do?
These are short stories about young people working in Malta. Each one is followed by questions. Talk about them with a partner, a small group, or your teacher. There is no single right answer.
The contract that never comes
Sara, 19, starts a job at a clothes shop in Sliema. Two weeks pass — no contract. Her first pay is €100 less than what the manager promised at the interview. When she asks why, the manager says, “That was just an idea, not a real promise.”
- What rule has the employer broken?
- What papers and notes should Sara start collecting now
- Who can she contact — DIER, the police, or someone else Why?
- What can she do next time, before signing or starting a new job?
“The helmets are coming”
Mark, 20, works on a construction site. His boss said hard hats would arrive “next week.” Three weeks later, no helmets. Yesterday, a colleague nearly fell from a wall. Now the boss says, “If you don’t go up, you don’t work tomorrow.”
- Which rules has the boss broken?
- Can Mark refuse to climb Why or why not?
- What is the boss’s threat called, and is it allowed?
- Which authority should Mark contact, and what should he say?
The promotion that never happened
Aisha, 22, has worked at a hotel in St Julian’s for three years. She applies for a promotion — she has more experience than her colleague, and better reviews. Her colleague gets the job. Later, Aisha hears the manager joke at a party that “the team needed someone less serious.” Aisha is the only person on her team who wears a hijab.
- Which protected things in the law might be involved here?
- What evidence might show this was unfair?
- Where can Aisha go for help — NCPE, the Industrial Tribunal, or both?
- What would you do if you were Aisha’s friend?
“It’s just a joke”
Liam, 18, works at a hotel reception. An older colleague keeps making comments about Liam’s accent, his weekend plans, and his appearance. Liam asked him to stop. The colleague laughed: “You’re too sensitive — it’s banter.” Liam told his shift supervisor, who said, “That’s just how he is.” The comments continue. Liam now feels sick before every shift.
- Apply the “reasonable person” test. Is this just a joke?
- The supervisor knows but does nothing — is that OK?
- What should Liam write down What email could he send?
- If nothing changes, who outside the hotel can help him?
The numbers that don’t add up
Sofia, 23, is an office trainee. She notices that some payments are going to bank accounts that don’t match the company records. She asks her manager about it. Her manager says, “Don’t look into things outside your role.” Two weeks later, Sofia’s review — always good — is suddenly bad. A week after that, she is told her job is “no longer needed.”
- Which Maltese law protects people who report problems honestly?
- What pattern in the timeline looks suspicious?
- What evidence could Sofia keep — and where?
- What deadline is most important for her now?
Top tips for your first job
Small habits that protect you for years.
The first-job survival checklist
- Read before you sign. Take the contract home. Ask questions.
- Save everything. Contract, payslips, schedules, important emails.
- Use email, not just WhatsApp. Important things should be written down.
- Know one trusted adult outside the workplace you can talk to.
- Track your hours yourself in a notebook or app.
- Never give up your ID, passport, or bank login. Ever.
- Ask before you agree to overtime, extra shifts, or a contract change.
- Know the names DIER, OHSA, NCPE. You don’t need to memorise the law — just know who to call.
- Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Tricks that make a real difference
The “send to yourself” trick: after an important conversation at work, send yourself a short email summarising it. Date and time included. This is your private timeline if you ever need one.
The “polite no” trick: practise short phrases like “Let me check my schedule and get back to you” or “I’d rather keep that private.” You don’t need to explain everything.
The “two questions” rule before signing anything: What does this mean? and What happens if I want to leave? If the answers are unclear, don’t sign yet.
The “buddy” system: tell one friend or family member where you work, your manager’s name, and your normal hours. It costs nothing and adds a layer of safety.
The “3-month folder“: every 3 months, spend 10 minutes saving payslips, important emails, and any notes about problems. Future-you will thank you.