Working Days – Malta
Malta observes 14 fixed public holidays annually, with no substitute day mechanism when a holiday falls on a weekend. The standard working week is 40 hours, and public holidays are statutory days off for all employees.
Annual summary
| Other year | Working days | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 251 | |
| 2026 | 250 | |
| 2027 | 250 | |
| 2028 | 248 |
Need to calculate business days between two specific dates? Malta business days calculator
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday in Malta?
There is no substitute day mechanism in Malta. Employees do not receive an additional day off during the week if a public holiday falls on a weekend. The holiday is observed on its actual calendar date regardless of the day of the week.
Are all 14 public holidays in Malta recognised equally for payroll purposes?
Yes. All 14 fixed public holidays are statutory days off with equal entitlement to holiday pay. These include religious observances (such as Christmas and Easter Friday), national commemorations (Independence Day and Republic Day), and cultural celebrations (such as Sette Giugno and L-Imnarja).
How should public holiday pay be calculated for employees in Malta?
Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to full pay plus an additional day off, or compensation as per their employment contract or collective agreement. If a public holiday falls within annual leave, the employee retains the right to take that day as additional paid leave.
Do all sectors in Malta observe the same public holidays?
Yes. The 14 public holidays apply uniformly across all sectors—public and private. However, essential services and security roles may have different working arrangements; any variations must be specified in employment contracts or collective agreements and compensated accordingly.
Is there a difference between public holidays and bank holidays in Malta?
Malta does not use the bank holiday concept. The country has only public holidays, which are fixed statutory days off. All recognised holidays are called public holidays (Jum Pubbliku) and apply uniformly to all workers.