The first phase of Malta's new Labour Migration Policy will come into effect on 1 August, with 20 key measures set to be implemented as the government moves to tighten controls, fight abuse and protect workers' rights, and ensure that third-country nationals are employed where genuinely needed, Minister Byron Camilleri said Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, Camilleri said in that the period of public consultation in the past months, over 300 submissions were made by several stakeholders, private individuals and companies, as well as those affected.

This led to the implementation of the policy which starts from 1 August, with the first twelve measures entering the implementation phase, and others will start from 1 October.

Camilleri said that other measures will be introduced gradually over the following months, while others are ongoing, as outlined in the published document. In total, work has commenced on the implementation of 20 measures.

The Malta Labour Migration Policy is based on four key principles, which are stability, workers' rights, controls to ensure workers come only where needed and investment in skills.

Measures to be implemented from 1 August

Camilleri said that there will be continuous monitoring of termination rates, and employers exceeding set thresholds will eventually be barred from applying for new third-country national (TCN) workers.

Initially, Jobsplus will notify applicants if limits are exceeded. Camilleri said that this will be a phased approach which will be adopted over 12 months to align the market with acceptable levels.

Employers with high termination rates, particularly unjustified dismissals, will be monitored and may be restricted from applying for third-country national (TCN) workers. This will be rolled out gradually, allowing employers time to adjust.

The second measure is the obligation for employers to advertise job opportunities in Malta and on EU job systems will be strengthened, and proof of this will be required before applying for TCN workers.

Additionally, employers who unjustifiably dismissed workers in the previous 12 months will not be allowed to apply for new TCN workers for the same position.

Another measure that will come into force will be the timely submission of Employment and Termination Forms, where these forms must be submitted on time (within four days) to provide a clearer picture of the situation, and prevent manipulation or overstay abuse.

A phased regularisation process will also begin on this measure, Camilleri said.

The document also enforces compliance with the Employment of Persons with Disability Act, where authorities will continue taking necessary steps to ensure compliance.

Non-compliant employers who fail to either employ persons with disabilities, or fail to pay the fine which goes to the Lino Spiteri Foundation to help train such persons to get a job, will not be allowed to apply for TCN workers.

There will also be a revision of fees, where employers who retain their employees will see their fees reduced by half, while fees for new TCN workers will be doubled, except in sectors like health, elderly care, and disability care.

The document also extends the 'grace period' after employment termination to 60 days, where TCNs working in Malta whose employment is terminated will be granted a longer grace period to find alternative employment, favouring individuals already familiar with Malta over newcomers.

If they fail to find employment after the period, they must leave Malta, Camilleri said.

There will also be new salary thresholds for the Key Employment Initiative (KEI) and Single Employment Initiative (SEI), where the KEI will rise to €45,000, and SEI to €30,000.

The policy will enforce new restrictions for those entering without a work Visa, and Camilleri said that individuals arriving in Malta on non-work visas (e.g. tourist visas) will not be allowed to apply for a single permit.

This ensures only those who came to work enter the labour market, with rare exceptions applying, Camilleri said.

Camilleri said that the policy also enforces Renewal Verifications, which will be carried out by Jobsplus, where verifications will be introduced and strengthened to ensure legal and contractual obligations are being upheld, even making sure that workers is being paid adequately.

There will also be a limit on TCNs per company, where a mechanism will be introduced linking TCN applications to the number of employees in the applying company.

Moreover, individuals in a stable relationship with Maltese nationals or parents of Maltese children under 23 will be exempt from the Single Permit process, though a work licence will still be required.

Measures to be implemented from 1 October

From 1 October, all salaries these workers receive must be paid by bank or electronically, through a licensed financial payment institution, with salaries for TCNs registered from 1 August 2025 onwards must be paid electronically.

From 1 October, TCNs from visa-exempt countries will be issued a temporary permit while their single permit is being processed but only if they apply within their first 60 days in Malta.

Those who apply after the 60-day window must wait for the outcome from outside the Schengen zone.

Another measure is that individuals recognised as victims of human trafficking will not be required to pay government fees.

The Labour Migration Policy's five ongoing implementation measures include an assessment of Labour Market Shortages and Surpluses, that Jobsplus will continue analysing labour market needs.

An ongoing measure is that Jobsplus also offers extensive training programmes, with more initiatives planned, as well as the Skills Card programme will be gradually extended.

Strategic partnerships will also be established to meet the policy's objectives, with details announced as agreements are finalised.

The government will also create a list of high-risk countries, where a regularly updated list will identify high-risk countries, whose citizens will not be eligible to apply.

Camilleri said that this document serves society's interests, as it updates policy around third-country workers and fights abuse.

"This was one of the most highly participated consultations we have had," Camilleri said.

 "There was a general consensus that we're on the right track. What followed was not debate over the principles, those were widely accepted, but discussions on how best to implement them," Camilleri said.

The document will be implemented in a gradual approach, some taking a few months to be implemented fully, so as to not overwhelm the system.

"Employers often try to exploit loopholes, underpay foreign workers, or bypass regulations. These measures send a clear message that this is no longer acceptable," Camilleri said, adding that the gradual rollout of the measures is designed to give everyone time to adjust.

He also spoke about the Council of Europe committee report which was published today on the state of the Corradino Correctional Facility, highlighting the poor infrastructural condition of the facility, describing it as "a relic of the Victorian era" which needs significant work in order to be fit for purpose as a prison.

Camilleri said that the report was done in 2023, and described it as the "most positive" report the committee had ever issued on the country, and while areas for improvement remain, the Council noted clear and significant progress.