Staff, Wages And Scheduling LawMalta
Dearer Work Permits Hit Kitchens That Rely On Foreign Staff
Budget 2027 raises permit fees for non-EU workers. Employers say Malta's hospitality trade depends on them.
In Short
- Budget 2027 lifts the first work permit fee for non-EU workers from €600 to €800.
- Yearly renewals rise from €150 to €400, plus a new €400 infrastructure contribution.
- Non-EU workers make up over 70% of staff in catering and hospitality.
- Four business groups, including the MHRA, say they were not consulted.
- The finance minister says the aim is to steer the economy away from labour-heavy growth.
The Malta Employers' Association says the government must own the choices that made Malta rely on foreign workers. It spoke after Budget 2027 raised the cost of hiring people from outside the EU.
The Malta Chamber, the MHRA, the Chamber of SMEs and the employers' association all say the measures came without consultation or an impact study.
The first permit application now costs €800 instead of €600. A renewal costs €400 instead of €150, and a new €400 yearly infrastructure contribution is added to applications and renewals.
Employing non-EU workers is a structural feature of the current economic model.
Workers from outside the EU make up about 40% of the workforce and over 70% in catering and hospitality. Finance minister Clyde Caruana said the measures are meant to affect the price of labour and slow population growth.
Unions and rights groups warn of exploitation. The labour department has found widespread irregularities in sectors that rely on these workers, hospitality among them.
What Does This Mean For Your Restaurant?
If you employ non-EU staff, work out the new fee per person for 2027 and decide who pays it. Check that every contract and permit is in order, because inspectors are already looking closely at hospitality.
Sources
This story summarises the articles below. Read them for the full details.