Work life balance in Europe: Malta implements EU directive

Under new legislation, Maltese workers now benefit from paternity, parental and care leave. With the law, the government is implementing the EU directive on the compatibility of work and family, which was passed in 2019. The law came into effect on 2 August 2022.

The Directive aims to enhance work-life balance through additional measures which will help families juggle between paid work, family life, and caring responsibilities. The key highlights of the newly enacted ‘Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers Regulations’ include the following measures:

• Fathers will receive ten days of fully paid leave on the birth of their child
• Parents will be entitled to two months paid parental leave at the national parental leave rate, whilst also benefitting from another two months of unpaid leave, transferable from one parent to another
• Parents will have the right to request flexible working arrangements for the first eight years of the child’s life through the use of flexible working patterns, remote working arrangements, or reduced working hours
• Employees will benefit from five days of unpaid carers’ leave per year to take care of an ill family member or anyone living within the same household

We can advise you on how to correctly implement the new work-life balance rules in your employment contracts.

Dr Roberta Avellino Pulé, Senior Legal Consultant, ECOVIS Malta, Mosta, Malta

At the end of the paternal, parental, and carers’ leave, employees are entitled to return to their positions or equivalent posts on terms and working conditions which are no less favourable to which they would have been entitled had they not benefitted from the leave. The regulations apply to all employees engaged on an employment contract or who have an employment relationship, collective agreement or practice in force.

For further information please contact:

Dr Roberta Avellino Pulé, Senior Legal Consultant, ECOVIS Malta, Mosta, Malta
Email: malta@ecovis.com