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Malta Sick Leave and Annual Leave: Employee Rights 2026

What workers in Malta are entitled to: annual leave, public holidays, sick pay, and family leave — under the Employment and Industrial Relations Act and related legislation.

Verified against Department of Industrial and Employment Relations · Government of Malta
Last checked 9 June 2026

Annual leave

Leave typeStatutory entitlement
Annual leave192 hours per year (≈ 24 working days at 8hr/day)
Public holidays14 days per year (in addition to annual leave)
Sick leave (paid)2 weeks (10 working days) per year
Maternity leave18 weeks total (14 mandatory + 4 optional)
Paternity leave2 days statutory (employer may offer more)
Parental leave (unpaid)4 months per parent per child (EU Parental Leave Directive)

DIER / EIRAStatutory minimums. Contracts and collective agreements may provide more. Last verified: 2026-06-09.

Malta’s 14 public holidays

DateHoliday
1 JanuaryNew Year’s Day
10 FebruaryFeast of St Paul’s Shipwreck
19 MarchFeast of St Joseph
31 MarchFreedom Day
Good FridayGood Friday (date varies)
1 MayWorkers’ Day
7 JuneSette Giugno (Riot Day)
29 JuneFeast of Sts Peter and Paul (Mnajdra / L-Imnarja)
15 AugustFeast of the Assumption
8 SeptemberVictory Day / Our Lady of Victories
21 SeptemberIndependence Day
8 DecemberFeast of the Immaculate Conception
13 DecemberRepublic Day
25 DecemberChristmas Day

gov.mtLast verified: 2026-06-09. Exact dates for moveable feasts vary by year.

Sick leave in practice

The 2-week statutory sick pay entitlement is paid by the employer for the first period. For extended illness, workers in Malta may be entitled to Sickness Benefit from the Department of Social Security, provided they have made sufficient National Insurance (social security) contributions.

A medical certificate from a doctor is required after 3 consecutive days of sick leave in most workplaces. Some employers require certification from day one — check your contract.

Maternity and paternity leave

Malta’s maternity leave of 18 weeks is above the EU minimum. The employer is required to pay for at least 14 weeks (of which 6 must be post-birth). The government also provides a Maternity Benefit top-up in some cases — check with the Department of Social Security for current entitlements.

Statutory paternity leave is just 2 days, which is low by EU standards. Many employers — particularly in iGaming and tech — offer substantially more as part of their benefits package. Ask HR before signing your contract.

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Sources