How much sick leave am I entitled to in Malta?
It depends on the sector — the floor is two weeks, but many get more. Where no Wage Regulation Order governs your work, the basic sick-leave entitlement is two weeks a year (counted in hours), under the Minimum Special Leave Entitlement Regulations (S.L. 452.101). Many WRO-regulated sectors give more, sometimes in two layers — a number of days on full pay and then more on half pay. The myth: that "everyone gets the same sick leave" or that "you are paid without limit for as long as you are ill". Once you use up your entitlement, the employer is no longer required to pay you, and instead you may qualify for the Sickness Benefit from Social Security. From 2026, the right to sick leave starts from the first day of work.
📋 The rules
- Where no WRO applies, sick leave is two weeks a year (in hours) under S.L. 452.101.
- Many WRO-regulated sectors give more, sometimes split between days on full pay and days on half pay.
- To use sick leave you must produce a medical certificate showing you are unfit for work.
- The employer pays only up to your entitlement; after that the Sickness Benefit from Social Security applies.
- From 2026, the right to sick leave starts on the first day of work across all sectors.
🔓 Exceptions
- The exact amount varies widely by the WRO governing the sector, so check the DIER Resource Pack.
- An absence not covered by a medical certificate does not count as sick leave and must be handled another way.
- Once the entitlement is used up, pay from the employer stops and only the eventual social benefit remains.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Sick leave is not unlimited, and this is where people come unstuck. The employer is only required to pay you up to your entitlement — two weeks where no WRO applies, or whatever your WRO sets. Once that is used up, sick pay from the employer stops, and only the Sickness Benefit from Social Security remains, if you qualify. To qualify you must produce a medical certificate showing you are unfit for work; an absence not covered by a certificate has to be treated differently, for example as leave. An employer who does not pay the sick leave that is due can be taken to DIER. From 2026 the entitlement starts on the first day, so a new worker cannot be refused sick leave just for having only recently started.
📎 Official sources
- DIER · Sick Leave →
- Laws of Malta (legislation.mt) · Minimum Special Leave Entitlement Regulations (S.L. 452.101) →
- DIER · Resource Pack 2026 (sectoral entitlements) →
❓ Frequently asked
How much sick leave am I entitled to in Malta?
If your work is not regulated by a Wage Regulation Order, the minimum entitlement is two weeks a year, calculated in hours, under S.L. 452.101. Many WRO-regulated sectors give more than this, so the exact amount depends on the sector you work in.
Is sick leave the same for everyone?
No. The two weeks is only the floor for those not covered by a WRO; regulated sectors often give more, sometimes in two layers of full pay then half pay. To know your precise entitlement you should check the applicable WRO.
What happens when I use up all my sick leave?
Once you use up your entitlement, the employer is no longer required to pay you for the sick days. Instead you may qualify for the Sickness Benefit from the Department of Social Security, depending on your contributions and the conditions that apply.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Yes. For an absence to count as sick leave you must produce a medical certificate confirming you are unfit for work. An absence not covered by a certificate is not treated as sick leave and may need another arrangement, such as leave.
Does a new worker get sick leave?
Yes. From 2026, the entitlement to sick leave starts on the first day of work across all sectors, and it cannot be refused to a worker simply for having only just started. The amount still depends on whether a WRO regulates the sector.
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