National minimum wage 2026
Under the multi-year National Agreement signed in October 2023, the 2026 minimum wage figures are:
| Age | Weekly | Hourly | Annual (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 and over | €229.44 | €5.74 | €11,931 |
| 17 | €222.66 | €5.57 | €11,578 |
| Under 17 | €219.82 | €5.50 | €11,431 |
Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) 2026
The 2026 COLA is €4.66/week (€242.32/year), down from €5.24/week in 2025 reflecting lower inflation. Pro-rata for part-time workers: €0.12/hour. COLA applies to all whole-time and part-time employees, and salary increments cannot fall below it.
Statutory bonuses & weekly allowances 2026
The 2026 statutory package totals €512.52 per full-time worker, paid in four tranches and taxable at the marginal rate but exempt from SSC (Class 1 is computed on basic weekly wage only).
| Tranche | Paid | Covers | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| June Bonus | End of June | Jan–Jun | €135.10 |
| December Bonus | 15–23 December | Jul–Dec | €135.10 |
| March Weekly Allowance | End of March | Oct–Mar | €121.16 |
| September Weekly Allowance | End of September | Apr–Sep | €121.16 |
Pro-rata formula: statutory bonus = €0.74 per calendar day in employment × (basic hours ÷ 1040); weekly allowance = €4.66 × weeks worked × (hours ÷ 1040). Bonuses accrue during maternity and parental leave but not during unpaid vacation.
Overtime — 15% flat rate
Qualifying overtime is taxed at 15% flat on the first €10,000 per year (max €1,500 tax), but only if:
- The employee is non-managerial, AND
- Basic annual wage is ≤€20,000 (≤€375/week).
Excess or non-qualifying overtime reverts to progressive rates. The employee may opt out entirely if normal rates give a lower bill. Standard overtime rate outside WROs is 1.5× normal for hours above 40/week.
Part-time — 10% flat rate
Part-time employment income is taxed at 10% flat on up to €10,000 per year (€12,000 if self-employed), provided the employee:
- Has a full-time main job, is a pensioner, or a student, AND
- The part-time role is not with the same employer or corporate group.
Elected via TA23 (employed) or TA22 (self-employed) by 30 April. Each spouse gets a separate cap. Amounts above the cap go to progressive rates in the tax return.
Leave entitlements 2026
- Vacation leave: 216 hours (27 days) for a 40-hour week — 192 hours plus 24 added in lieu of three public holidays falling on weekends in 2026 (7 June Sette Giugno, 15 August Santa Marija, 13 December Republic Day).
- Sick leave: 2 weeks full pay by default (Minimum Special Leave Entitlement Regulations), less a deduction equal to the social security sickness benefit. Wage Regulation Orders are usually more generous.
- New in 2026: 7 working days miscarriage leave (LN 274/2025) and 7 working days parental bereavement leave (LN 275/2025).
- Malta has 14 public holidays in 2026.