Working conditions and labour laws in Malta

As I have never worked over here I do not have any experience as regards working conditions but would assume they are not as good as some other countries especially if you are not local.

One thing to be very careful about is the regulation around fixed term contracts. Article 36 (12) of the "Employment and Industrial Relations Act" says "An employee who abandons the service of his employer before the time definitely specified by the contract of service shall pay to his employer a sum equal to one-half of the full wages to which he would have become entitled if he had continued in the service for the remainder of the time so specifically agreed upon...". Some employers take profit of the fact foreigners don't know this regulation to offer this type of contract. I know people who were asked to pay this fee when they resigned. A fixed term contract can be as long as four years. I would strongly recommend refusing this type of contract and ask for an indefinite time contract of service. That is what most Maltese do.