💶 What is the minimum wage in Malta in 2026?

With conditions

Quick answer

In 2026 the national minimum wage is €229.44 a week for anyone aged 18 or over, which is €5.74 an hour over a 40-hour week. For a 17-year-old it is €222.66 a week, and under 17 it is €219.82 a week. The myth: that "the minimum wage is €221.78" — that was the 2025 figure. The 2026 rate includes the cost-of-living increase (COLA) of €4.66 together with the 2023 national agreement on the minimum wage. Sectors regulated by a Wage Regulation Order may set a higher minimum, and the statutory bonuses are paid separately four times a year — they are not part of the minimum wage itself, and an employer who folds them into it may be underpaying you, because the bonus is meant to top up your pay, not to fill the minimum wage.

📋 The rules

The national minimum wage for 2026 is €229.44 a week for anyone aged 18 or over.
For a 17-year-old it is €222.66, and for those under 17 it is €219.82 a week.
The minimum hourly rate for 2026 is €5.74, based on a 40-hour week.
The figure includes the COLA of €4.66 for 2026 plus the increase from the 2023 national minimum-wage agreement (Legal Notice 287 of 2023).
Sectors with a Wage Regulation Order may set a higher minimum, and part-timers are paid pro rata at the same hourly rate.

🔓 Exceptions

The statutory bonuses and allowances are paid separately four times a year and are not part of the minimum wage.
Where a sectoral WRO sets a higher minimum, that applies instead of the national figure.
Someone already earning more than the 2026 minimum is generally entitled only to the COLA, not a double increase.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Paying below the minimum breaks the law, and DIER can investigate complaints and order the employer to pay the arrears back to the worker. The minimum wage is the floor, not the ceiling: an agreement or a sectoral WRO can raise the figure, but no one may pay less. The COLA (€4.66 for 2026) is due to almost every worker, and for anyone on the 2025 minimum it also rises to reach €229.44. Watch out for employers who fold the statutory bonuses into the basic wage: these are paid separately and do not count toward the minimum. A part-time worker is entitled to the same hourly rate on a pro-rata basis (the weekly minimum divided by 40), and arrears can be recovered if it turns out you were paid less.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

What is the minimum wage in Malta right now?

For 2026 the national minimum wage is €229.44 a week for anyone aged 18 or over, which works out to €5.74 an hour. Many sites still show €221.78, but that was the 2025 figure and it changed on 1 January 2026.

Does the minimum wage include the government bonus?

No. The statutory bonuses and the allowance are paid separately, in four payments across the year, and they are added to the wage. An employer who says the bonus is part of the minimum wage is cutting what you are actually owed.

Is the minimum wage the same for everyone?

No. It varies by age (€229.44 for 18+, €222.66 for 17, €219.82 under 17) and can be higher in sectors regulated by a Wage Regulation Order. Part-timers are paid at the same hourly rate on a pro-rata basis.

What do I do if I'm paid below the minimum?

You can file a complaint with the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER), which investigates and can order your employer to pay the arrears. The minimum wage is a statutory right and cannot be signed away by an agreement to pay you less.

How does the COLA affect my pay?

The cost-of-living increase for 2026 is €4.66 a week and is due to almost every worker, whether on the minimum or not. For anyone who was on the 2025 minimum, the pay also includes an extra rise to reach €229.44.

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