📋 How long is the probation period in Malta?

With conditions

Quick answer

Usually 6 months — but not always. For indefinite contracts the probation period is 6 months, unless the parties agree to less. For anyone in a technical, executive, administrative or managerial role paid at least double the minimum wage for that year, probation rises to one year. For fixed-term contracts it is pro-rata: about 2 months for every 6 months of contract, capped at 6 months once the contract passes 15 months. The myth: that "during probation they can fire you on the spot with nothing". After one month of continuous employment a week's notice applies, you cannot be dismissed during a suspension of probation, and a contract renewed for the same work brings no new probation.

📋 The rules

For indefinite contracts probation is 6 months, unless a shorter period is agreed.
For technical, executive, administrative or managerial roles paid at least double the minimum, probation is one year.
For fixed-term contracts probation is pro-rata: 2 months for a 6-month contract, up to a maximum of 6 months for contracts of 16 months or more.
During probation either party may end it without a reason, but after one month a week's notice applies.
Probation is suspended during justified absence of two weeks or more (sickness, leave, injury, maternity) and resumes on return.

🔓 Exceptions

A contract renewed for the same work cannot carry a new probation period.
The parties can always agree a shorter probation than the law provides.
A worker cannot be dismissed during the period of suspension of probation.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Probation does not strip away all rights. During it, either party may end the relationship without giving a reason, but after one month of continuous employment a week's notice applies — an employer who sends you home the same day without that week is in the wrong. A worker cannot be dismissed during a suspension of probation (sickness, leave, injury or maternity of two weeks or more), and those days stop the probation clock, which then continues on return. If a senior role is paid less than double the minimum wage, the one-year probation does not apply and it stays at 6 months. A contract renewed for the same work brings no new probation, and imposing one is against the law; an unfair dismissal after probation can be taken to the Industrial Tribunal.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

How long is a normal probation period?

For most indefinite jobs the probation period is six months, unless you agree to less. For technical or managerial roles paid at least double the minimum wage it rises to one year, while for fixed-term contracts it is calculated pro-rata to the length.

How long is probation on a fixed-term contract?

It is proportionate to the length of the contract: a 6-month contract carries about two months of probation, and the period rises gradually up to a maximum of 6 months for contracts of 16 months or more. For a contract under 6 months, probation is one-third of its length.

Can they dismiss me without notice during probation?

During probation either side can end the job without giving a reason, but not without notice after the first month. Once you have been with the same employer for more than a month, a week's notice applies before the end.

Does sickness pause the probation period?

Yes. A justified absence of two weeks or more — such as sickness, leave, injury or maternity — suspends the probation, and you cannot be dismissed during that time. The probation clock starts running again when you return to work.

If my contract is renewed, does probation start again?

No. When a contract is renewed for the same work, a new probation period cannot be imposed. An employer who puts you back on probation for the same role is acting against the law, and you can raise the matter with DIER.

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