Being told “today is your last day” is hard enough without having to decode Malta's employment rules at the same time. Do not begin with a severance-pay calculator. Begin with three facts: why your job ended, what kind of contract you had, and whether your right to stay in Malta depends on that job. The answers change what you should do next.
If this happened today: Ask for the reason and effective date in writing. Save your contract, payslips, leave balance and employer messages. Ask for an itemised final settlement. If you hold a non-EU Single Permit, check your position with Identità promptly: losing the job may also start a residence-permit deadline.
1. How did the job end?
“I was fired” can mean different things in law. Find the wording on your termination letter or Jobsplus termination record; if it is unclear, ask your employer to state the reason in writing.
| Your situation | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Redundancy | The job is being removed. Check your notice entitlement and final pay. |
| Dismissal for a stated reason | Get the reason and supporting documents. If you think the dismissal was unfair, do not miss the tribunal deadline. |
| Probation | Check the probation dates. After more than one month of continuous service, one week's notice generally applies. |
| Fixed-term contract ended early | Do not use the ordinary indefinite-contract notice table without checking the separate fixed-term rule. |
These distinctions come from the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) and its fixed-term contract guidance. A contract or collective agreement may add rights beyond the statutory minimum.
2. What money should you receive?
Whatever the reason for termination, check the final settlement line by line: unpaid wages, overtime, accrued leave and any proportionate statutory bonuses or allowances due. Outstanding annual leave is normally paid out when employment ends. Ask for the calculation, not just the final number. DIER lists the payments due on termination, and explains the right to payment for outstanding vacation leave.
If you were made redundant on an indefinite contract
After probation, statutory notice depends on continuous service with that employer. More than one month and up to six months generally means one week; more than six months and up to two years means two weeks; more than two and up to four years means four weeks; more than four and up to seven years means eight weeks. It rises after that, subject to the statutory cap and possible longer agreed periods for some senior roles. If the employer does not let you work your due redundancy notice, DIER says the unworked period is payable at full wages. Check the full notice table and DIER's notice FAQ.
If your fixed-term contract was cut short
This is not necessarily the same as ordinary notice. DIER says that, after probation, where a fixed-term contract is ended without a justified reason, the party breaching it may owe the other party half the wages that would have been earned during the remaining term. Check the reason, contract dates and any applicable exceptions before calculating a claim. DIER explains the fixed-term rule.
Is there “severance pay” in Malta? Do not assume an automatic extra lump sum simply because your role was made redundant. First calculate notice and outstanding entitlements. A fixed-term contract, collective agreement or negotiated package may change the result. This is why the contract type matters more than the label “severance.”
3. Does losing your job affect your right to stay?
If you are a non-EU national on a Single Permit tied to this employment, treat this as urgent. Identità says that, for terminations from 1 August 2025, the initial period to remain in Malta and seek alternative employment is 30 days. A further 30 days may be possible if you can show financial self-sufficiency; it is not an automatic extra month. Check the current procedure directly with Identità's non-EU employment FAQ before making travel or work plans. Our Malta work permit guide explains the wider permit process.
If you are an EU national, Maltese national or hold another residence status, that Single Permit timeline may not apply to you. Check your own status instead of relying on a colleague's experience.
4. Can you claim unemployment benefit?
Do not assume that losing a job automatically means receiving a benefit. The Department of Social Security says a claim can be initiated when an eligible jobseeker registers under Part 1 with Jobsplus; contribution and other conditions still apply. A person who resigned cannot register under Part 1 on that basis. If you worked in another EU country, previous insurance periods may matter, and a U1 document can help establish them. Check Social Security's eligibility guidance before budgeting for a payment.
If you are ready to look for another job, start with our English-speaking jobs guide or visa-sponsorship guide. These are job-search starting points, not substitutes for Jobsplus registration.
5. What if the employer has not paid—or the dismissal was unfair?
For unpaid wages and other outstanding dues, DIER accepts claims after termination and asks for documents such as your contract, payslips, termination form, leave records and correspondence. Its current claim instructions say personal claims for unpaid amounts are lodged in person; check the current office details before going.
An unfair-dismissal claim is a different route. DIER states that an employee alleging unfair dismissal may lodge a complaint with the Industrial Tribunal within four months of termination. Do not wait for a pay dispute to finish before checking that deadline. See DIER's termination FAQ. If your circumstances are contested, get qualified advice promptly.
Your next 24 hours: a short checklist
- Ask for the termination reason, date and Jobsplus record; keep copies outside your work email.
- Request an itemised final settlement and compare it with payslips, overtime and unused leave.
- Check whether your contract is indefinite or fixed-term, and whether probation has ended.
- If your permission to live in Malta depends on this job, contact Identità promptly.
- If eligible, register with Jobsplus and check unemployment-benefit conditions.
- If you dispute the pay or dismissal, contact DIER; note the separate Industrial Tribunal deadline.
You do not have to work out every legal detail on the day you lose your job. You do need to preserve the documents and avoid missing a deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Sources checked 24 September 2026: DIER termination FAQ, DIER fixed-term guidance, Identità Single Permit FAQ, and Social Security unemployment guidance. This is general information, not individual legal or immigration advice.