Resources for employers in Malta
Resources for employers in Malta
We use “refugees” as a term encompassing forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers and other persons in need of international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Why hire refugees in Malta?
Malta hosts a small number of refugees and asylum-seekers, many of whom are eager to integrate in to local society and join the workforce. Despite facing many challenges, such as bureaucratic hurdles, the language barrier, and limited employment opportunities, many refugees succeed in securing dignified and fulfilling jobs in Malta.
Maltese businesses have an important role to play in the labor market integration of refugees, by opening their doors to jobseekers and creating suitable conditions. This would not only facilitate refugee hiring and job retention but it would also bring many benefits to their employers: from filling labor shortages and skills gaps, making the Maltese economy more diverse, international, and resilient, and helping to build stronger socially responsible brands. In fact, a study by the TENT Partnership for Refugees called “How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands” found that 51% of consumers are more likely to buy from companies hiring refugees, with the percentage among young consumers aged 18-25 reaching 58%.
How many refugees are there in Malta?
In 2023, there were 12,000 refugees in Malta, coming from Libya (3,000), Ukraine (2,000), Syria (2,000), and other countries. In 2023, Malta received a total of 600 new applications, from individuals coming from Syria, Bangladesh, Sudan, Libya and Ukraine. 18 individuals were recognised as refugees, 241 were granted subsidiary protection and 6 were granted Temporary Humanitarian Protection.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder and the Operational Data Portal on the Mediterranean Situation to learn more
How many of them are working?
As of August 2023, 1,822 beneficiaries of international protection were in employment, of whom 375 refugees and 1,447 beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
Read the report “In pursuit of livelihood: An in-depth investigation of asylum-seekers' battle against poverty and social exclusion in Malta” by JRS and the Aditus Foundation
What are the main challenges?
Some of the challenges which refugees in Malta face in their access to the job market include: language obstacles in Maltese and English, limited or no academic or professional background, and limited or seasonal employment opportunities. Some end up accepting jobs with low wages, long working hours, unsafe working conditions or irregular work. In the case of temporary protection holders from Ukraine, the main challenges include lack of information, English language requirements by employers, and employers not recruiting due to fear of return to Ukraine. In the case of asylum-seekers, employers are frequently deterred from applying for a work permit on their behalf because of the short-term nature of the permits and the administrative burden associated with the application, particularly in comparison to the employment of other migrants. Furthermore, asylum-seekers are not permitted to obtain a driving licence.
Read more in the AIDA country report for Malta sections on labor market access for asylum-seekers, refugees, and temporary protection holders
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? | Process |
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Asylum seeker |
Individuals who have applied for international protection but still have not received a decision on their application. | Asylum seekers have the right to access the labour market after the lapse of nine months from the date when the application was lodged, unless they originate from a country listed as a “safe country of origin.” | Asylum seekers cannot have an employment licence (work permit) in their own name but must find an employer willing to apply for an employment licence for them to perform a specific job. Whenever there is a change in job and/or or employer, a new employment licence must be applied for. Employment licences are valid for up to 1 year and are issued by Jobsplus. |
| Refugee status | Individuals who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. | Refugees have the right to work in Malta. | Refugees must acquire an employment licence (also known as a work permit) in their own name to legally work in Malta. They do not require the endorsement of an employer. Work permits are issued by Jobsplus for a maximum duration of one year. |
| Subsidiary protection | Individuals who do not qualify for a refugee status but who are unable to return to their home country because it would mean they face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. | Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have the right to work in Malta. | Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection must acquire an employment licence (also known as a work permit) in their own name to legally work in Malta. They do not require the endorsement of an employer. Work permits are issued by Jobsplus for a maximum duration of one year. |
| Temporary protection | Residents of Ukraine and their family members who were forced to leave their country due to the current war. | Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to work in Malta. | Beneficiaries of temporary protection must acquire an employment licence (also known as a work permit) in their own name to legally work in Malta. They do not require the endorsement of an employer. Work permits are issued by Jobsplus for a maximum duration of one year. |
Bear in mind
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When hiring a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, the employer is to advise Jobsplus of such employment by sending an Engagement Form containing the actual date of commencement of employment. When employment is terminated or when an employee’s employment status is changed, the employer is to advise Jobsplus by sending a Declaration of Termination of Employment form.
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In practice, asylum-seekers can access the labour market immediately after lodging their asylum application, as long as they find an employer willing to apply for their employment licence, unless they originate from a country listed as a ‘safe country of origin’.
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Asylum-seekers and refugees may not hold positions with the public service. Asylum-seekers are also unable to access jobs requiring a Maltese driving licence, as they are barred from applying for one.
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The forms for applying for a work permit are available on the website of Jobsplus, including a checklist of the required documents.
How do I connect with refugee talent?
Companies can get in touch with several NGOs which have a wide network of beneficiaries and which can make appropriate referrals. These NGOs also provide complementary services for psychosocial support and integration. For example, the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) provides services related to legal assistance, employment services, social work, psychological and health care support to refugees in reception centres and the community; the Integra foundation provides basic integration support through language lessons and drop-in centres; Hal Far Outreach runs a weekly information centre with employment assistance via assistance with CV writing and job searches as well as 10-week English courses in different levels and weekly language cafés; Blue Door Education, which offers free trainings for refugees by volunteer instructors; and the Peace Lab Information Centre offers CV and job-search support. In addition, companies can get in touch with the network of refugee-led organizations which serve the different refugee communities in Malta.
What can I do to support refugee employees?
Employers who wish to facilitate the hiring and onboarding of refugee talent can take several steps, such as: 1) reviewing the language requirements for vacancies and allowing for limited proficiency in Maltese or English where possible; 2) cooperating with NGO partners in to register employees for language courses in the meantime; 3) giving refugees opportunities to demonstrate their skills, even if lacking professional qualifications, through internships; 4) combining work and training through apprenticeships and on-the-job training; 5) setting up mentorship or buddy programs to help refugee hires bond with their new coworkers; and 6) providing diversity training to the company employees and managers.
Useful resources
Governmental support
Employers interested in hiring refugees can get in touch with Jobsplus, the national public employment agency. It provides job advisory services, training courses, as well as several employment support schemes including a job brokerage scheme for refugees and migrants. Within Jobsplus, the Job Brokerage Office provides services to refugees such as short-term job exposure opportunities, career guidance, profiling and CV drafting, and courses in basic English and Maltese for employment. Click here to see a video of the Inclusive Employment Services offered by Jobsplus.
“Skills for Employment” toolkit prepared by IKEA with best practices on how employers can open employment pathways for refugees
A report by the TENT partnership for refugees on “How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands: Europe (2023)”
2023 Briefing Paper by the World Economic Forum titled “Enabling the Economic Integration of Refugees: Lessons learned on refugee employment and employability from the rapid response to Ukraine” .