Public Holidays in Malta for 2019
Malta has a total of 14 public and national holidays yearly. There is no work on those days, and they are paid holidays. The government determines what makes a holiday public or federal, and they let the citizens know by flying their national flag on the dates that are considered national celebrations.
The regulations of these national holidays are controlled by the National Holidays and other Public Holidays Act of 1975. Based on the 2005 amendment, holidays on that happen to fall on rest days do not give workers another day off. This Act keeps holidays from moving it to the next Monday in case they are on rest days.
As an employer, you must know all about these holidays in Malta to keep your employers happy.
What Employers Should Know
Workers have an annual leave that is equivalent to four weeks and four if you combine all the hours based on a 40-hour workweek and eight hours a day. In case the employee is employed for less than a year, they can have an annual leave that is proportionate to their employment period. Workers who do 40 hours a week must be given a paid leave that is equivalent to 208 hours or 26 working days. If the working time average is based on a 17-week period reference, and it is less or more than 40 hours a week, the annual leave will be properly adjusted.
The yearly leave is scheduled on the days that are agreed on between the employer and worker. The law will allow a yearly leave and an annual leave that is proportionate, but does not exceed 50% of what they are entitled to, may be carried over to the next year.
Dates of the Malta Public Holiday 2019
| Date | Day/s | Holiday | Type |
| 1 January | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | Public |
| 10 February | Monday | Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck | Public |
| 19 March | Thursday | Feast of Saint Joseph | Public |
| 31 March | Tuesday | Freedom Day | National |
| 10 April | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| 12 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance |
| 13 April | Monday | Easter Monday | Observance |
| 13 April | Monday | Bank Holiday | Bank Holiday |
| 1 May | Friday | Labor Day | Public |
| 7 June | Sunday | Sette Giugno | National |
| 29 June | Monday | Feast of Saints Peter and Paul | Public |
| 15 August | Saturday | The Feast of Mary’s Assumption | Public |
| 8 September | Tuesday | The Feast of Our Lady of Victories | National |
| 21 September | Monday | Independence Day | National |
| 8 December | Tuesday | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | National |
| 13 December | Sunday | Republic Day | National |
| 24 December | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | Public |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day | Observance |
| 26 December | Saturday | Bank Holiday | Bank Holiday |
| 31 December | Thursday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Employee Benefits on a Public Holiday
Vacation leave begins its accumulation from the time it was commenced. It can be availed under an agreement between the employer and employee only. When the leave coming from an annual leave entitlement of the employee has been agreed upon, no one can cancel the vacation leave unilaterally. It can only be cancelled if both parties agree on it.
Through an employer’s mutual agreement, the leave can be in the form of hours. In case there is no agreement between them, the vacation leave must be a whole day.
Maternity Leave
The annual leave remains the same, even when the employee is on maternity leave. If there is a day that was not used during the year, it will be moved to the next year when it was not possible because of the maternity leave.
An unused period that was pre-arranged which coincides with the maternity, injury, or sick leave must be availed after the employee returns to work or on the next year. It is if the maternity leave is not availed in the same year.
Doing Business in Malta
The GDP growth rate of Malta is the same as Ireland, Germany, and France. That means Malta has a friendly economy for opening a business.
Even if it has the smallest economy in Eurozone, it made a strong forecast record in 2019 at a growth rate of 5.2%. The reputation of Malta is secure and stable, especially with its financial centre. It is well-known for business services, tourism, online gaming, aviation, and maritime. You can use the growing economy to your advantage, which is why setting up a business in Malta a wise move.
