[Malta] Employer-paid urgent family leave increased

In Malta, employer-paid urgent family leave for employees is being increased by more than double. The change will take effect from April 4, Lockton reports.

The significant increase was made through recent amendments to the Urgent Family Leave Regulations. It is intended to improve work-life balance for employees.

From April 4, employer-paid urgent family leave will go from 15 hours to 32 hours per year, equivalent to four eight-hour standard working days. Employers may reportedly offer more favorable entitlements to employees through collective agreements, individual employment agreements and company internal policies.

Until now, the 15-hour yearly entitlement was deducted from an employee’s annual leave entitlement. From April 4, the first 16 hours of the increased entitlement will be deducted from annual leave, and the remaining 16 hours will be deducted from annual sick leave. 

Employees may only take urgent family leave if they have sufficient annual and sick leave balances.

Urgent family leave provides employees with time off from work in urgent circumstances relating to an immediate family member requiring the employee’s immediate presence, such as accidents, sudden illness or sickness, births, and deaths. Immediate family refers to a spouse, child (biological or in legal custody), and relative up to the first degree (i.e. parent, sibling).

All employees are reportedly entitled to urgent family leave; part-time employees are entitled to a pro-rated entitlement. Employees are not required to give advance notice unless the situation allows them to provide at least 24 hours’ notice. An employer may require an employee to provide evidence to verify the leave request.

Lockton advises employers to review and update their family leave policies and procedures to align with the changes. They must minimally match the statutory requirements and may consider offering enhanced urgent family leave benefits.

Further information is available here: Urgent Family Leave

Source: Lockton

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