Is parental leave paid in Malta?

Partly. Each parent gets four months of parental leave per child, to be used before the child turns eight. The first eight weeks are non-transferable and paid by the Department of Social Security at the married Sickness Benefit rate. The remaining eight weeks are unpaid and can be transferred to the other parent.

Is there miscarriage leave in Malta?

Yes. Since 1 January 2026 employees get seven working days of paid leave after a miscarriage before the 22nd week of pregnancy. The other prospective parent is also entitled. After the 22nd week, maternity leave applies instead.

Do self-employed parents get parental leave benefit in Malta?

Yes. From 1 January 2026 (applied retrospectively) self-employed, adoptive and foster parents can claim four months of parental leave benefit per child before the child turns eight. The first two months are paid and non-transferable; the last two are unpaid and transferable.

Family Updated October 2026 7 min read

Malta Maternity Leave 2026: 18 Weeks Entitlement Guide

Everything you need to know about maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Malta.

Maternity Leave

Aspect	Details
Duration	18 weeks
Mandatory before birth	4 weeks minimum
First 14 weeks	Full salary (employer paid)
Weeks 15-18	Maternity Leave Benefit: €229.44/week (equal to the national minimum wage, paid by DSS)
Self-occupied mothers	Maternity Benefit €229.44/week × 14 + Maternity Leave Benefit €229.44/week × 4
No employer-paid leave	Flat-rate Maternity Benefit €147.95/week × 14

Paternity Leave

Duration: 10 working days
When: Within 6 months of birth
Pay: Full salary (employer paid)

Parental Leave

In addition to maternity/paternity leave, parents are entitled to:

4 months of parental leave per parent, per child
Must be taken before the child turns 8
First 8 weeks: non-transferable and paid by the Department of Social Security at the married Sickness Benefit rate
Last 8 weeks: unpaid and transferable to the other parent

Rules from the Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers Regulations (L.N. 201 of 2022).

New in 2026: Additional Family Leave

Leave	Entitlement	From
Miscarriage leave	7 working days paid, for a miscarriage before week 22 — for both prospective parents	1 Jan 2026
Parental bereavement leave	7 working days in total on the death of a child under 18	1 Jan 2026
Self-employed parental leave benefit	4 months per child (incl. adoptive and foster parents): first 2 months paid, last 2 unpaid	1 Jan 2026 (retrospective)
Recognised parents of children born abroad	Up to 18 weeks (14 employer-paid, 4 unpaid), shareable between both parents or 9 weeks each	21 Jun 2026

Malta Calculator Editorial Team

Financial Content Specialists | Malta Tax & Employment Experts

Our team specializes in Maltese tax law, social security contributions, and employment regulations. All content is reviewed against official sources from the Malta Tax and Customs Administration and the Department of Social Security.

Published: 1 January 2026Updated: 21 October 2026

Official Sources

Data verified as of 21 October 2026. Rates and thresholds are subject to change based on Malta government budget announcements.

Share this article

Emma Spiteri10 months ago

18 weeks is decent but still less than many EU countries. At least the first 14 weeks are fully paid. This guide helped me plan everything with my employer before my due date ❤️

expecting_mom_2310 months ago

omg thank you for this!! im 6 months pregnant and my employer hasnt told me anything about my entitlements. now i know exactly what to ask for

Mark Pace10 months ago

Any info on paternity leave? My wife is expecting and I know there have been changes recently but cant find clear info anywhere

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