Malta is significantly increasing employer-paid urgent family leave for employees, raising it from 15 hours to 32 hours per year. This change will take effect from 4 April 2025.
Background
The change was made through recent amendments to the Urgent Family Leave Regulations, aiming to further improve employees’ work-life balance.
Key details
Starting 4 April 2025, employer-paid urgent family leave will more than double, increasing from 15 hours to 32 hours per year, which is equivalent to four eight-hour standard working days. Employers may offer more favorable entitlements to employees through collective agreements, individual employment agreements and company internal policies.
Previously, the entitlement of 15 hours per year was deducted from an employee’s annual leave entitlement. However, from 4 April 2025, the first 16 hours of the increased entitlement will be deducted from annual leave, whilst the remaining 16 hours will be deducted from annual sick leave. Employees may only take urgent family leave if they have sufficient annual and sick leave balances.
Urgent family leave provides employees with time off from work in urgent circumstances relating to an immediate family member that require the employee’s immediate presence. These include accidents, sudden illness or sickness, births, and deaths. Immediate family refers to a spouse, child (biological or in legal custody), and relative up to the first degree (i.e. parent, sibling).
All employees are entitled to urgent family leave, with part-time employees entitled to a pro-rated entitlement. Employees are not required to give advance notice unless the situation allows them to provide at least 24 hours’ notice. An employer may require an employee to provide evidence to verify the leave request.
Employer Action: Act
Employers should review and update their family leave policies and procedures to align with the changes. While they must minimally match the statutory requirements, they may consider offering enhanced urgent family leave benefits to employees.
Further Information
Urgent Family Leave | Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (opens a new window)
Urgent Family Leave (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (opens a new window)
