New employee rights and pay transparency rules take effect

As of 27th August 2025, new employment regulations have come into force in Malta, strengthening workers’ rights and increasing transparency around pay.

Under the new rules, employees and job applicants are now explicitly entitled to the following:

1. Job applicants must be informed of their prospective salary – either as a fixed amount or within a defined pay range – before accepting a role. Where applicable, they must also be told the relevant pay provisions included in any collective agreement.
2. Existing employees may, at any point during their employment, request details of (i) their individual pay level, and (ii) the pay levels for categories of workers performing the same work as them. Employers are required to provide this information in writing within a “reasonable” timeframe, which may not exceed two months from the date of the request.

These measures mark an important step in Malta’s gradual implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which must be fully transposed by March 2026. Once this is completed, employees’ rights to pay-related information will extend further, covering not only those performing the same work but also those carrying out work of equal value.

Determining whether jobs are of “equal value” requires a structured evaluation, based on objective, gender-neutral and non-discriminatory criteria. Employers who have not yet conducted such an assessment are being urged to begin preparing now. A number of established tools and best practices are available to help companies document their approach and ensure compliance.