Malta Vacation Leave 2026: Complete Guide
Know your annual leave entitlement under Malta employment law.
Minimum Vacation Entitlement
In Malta, full-time employees working a standard 40-hour week are entitled to a minimum of 192 working hours (equivalent to 24 working days at 8 hours per day) of annual vacation leave.
2026 Entitlement Breakdown
| Component | Hours | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Base Entitlement | 192 | 24 |
| Public Holidays on Weekends (2026: 3) | +24 | +3 |
| Total 2026 | 216 | 27 |
Public Holiday Additions
When a public holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), employees receive additional vacation hours:
- 2024: 3 holidays on weekends → +24 hours
- 2025: 2 holidays on weekends → +16 hours
- 2026: 3 holidays on weekends → +24 hours
Part-Time Employees
Part-time employees receive vacation leave on a pro-rata basis. The calculation is:
Part-time hours ÷ 40 hours × Full-time entitlement = Your entitlementFor example, a 20-hour/week employee would receive 96 base hours (50% of 192).
Carryover Rules
- Up to 50% of unused leave may be carried forward
- Requires employer agreement
- Leave accrues monthly on a pro-rata basis
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 Commissioner for Revenue and the Department of Social Security.
Official Sources
- Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) - Malta
- Employment and Industrial Relations Act (EIRA) - legislation.mt
Data verified as of 1 January 2026. Rates and thresholds are subject to change based on Malta government budget announcements.
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Finally a clear explanation of leave entitlement! 192 hours (24 days) annual leave plus public holidays is actually pretty generous when you think about it
My employer keeps telling me to use leave on public holidays when we're closed. Is that legal? According to this article it shouldn't be...
Doris - no that's not legal. Public holidays are separate from annual leave. Your employer cannot force you to use your vacation days for public holidays. You should raise this with DIER.
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