Employment Problems in Malta: Unpaid Wages, Leave and Dismissal

If your wage, leave or working hours look wrong, start by turning the problem into a dated, documented question. Do not begin with a long complaint containing every workplace frustration; identify the specific right, period and amount affected.

For the underlying rules and current figures, first read our employment rights in Malta guide. For income-tax or social-security deductions, use our tax and social security guide.

Decide what kind of problem you have

Problem	First record to check	Main route if unresolved
Wage, overtime or allowance missing	Contract, roster, payslip and bank payment	Employer, then DIER
Tax or social-security deduction looks wrong	Payslip, FS4 and FS3	Payroll, then MTCA or Social Security
Leave balance is wrong	Contract, leave records and payslip	Employer, then DIER
No payslip	Pay date and payment record	Employer, then DIER
Dismissal or redundancy	Contract, termination notice and Jobsplus record	DIER; Industrial Tribunal advice where applicable
Discrimination, harassment or health and safety	Dated incident record and relevant messages	Appropriate specialist authority or legal advice

Build a one-page chronology

List only the key events in date order:

1. When employment started and what contract was signed.
2. What was agreed about pay, hours, leave or duties.
3. When the problem first appeared.
4. Which payslip, shift or instruction shows it.
5. When you raised it and how the employer responded.
6. What amount, correction or explanation remains outstanding.

Attach documents to the relevant event rather than sending an unstructured folder of screenshots.

Ask the employer a precise question

A useful written message identifies the pay period and requested correction. For example:

My payslip for July records 160 normal hours, but my approved roster and clocking records show 168. Please provide the calculation and correct any resulting wage, leave and contribution entries.

Keep the message factual. Ask for the calculation, the rule being used and a response by a reasonable date. Do not sign a resignation, waiver or settlement merely to obtain information that should already be available.

Documents DIER may need

DIER's claim guidance and termination guidance identify records such as:

• Jobsplus engagement and termination forms
• Employment contract or letter of appointment
• Payslips and annual FS3
• Bank transfers or cheque records
• Timesheets, rosters or clocking records
• Vacation and sick-leave records
• Messages or letters relevant to the disputed period

Download records while you still have access to the employer's systems.

Unpaid wages after leaving

Outstanding wages, overtime, leave, bonuses and other amounts due at termination should generally be settled by the next pay date. If payment is missing, raise it with the former employer first and keep proof.

If the employer does not resolve it, follow DIER's instructions for outstanding dues and termination claims. Personal claims for unpaid amounts normally require the former employee to attend DIER with the supporting documents.

Dismissal deadlines can be short

An employee alleging unfair dismissal normally has four months from dismissal to refer the case to the Industrial Tribunal. Other claims may have different routes and limits.

Do not spend months exchanging informal messages when a dismissal or substantial sum is involved. Contact DIER or obtain legal or union advice early enough to protect the applicable deadline.

What a payslip should help you prove

Employers must provide an itemised payslip before or on the date wages are due. It should show normal and overtime hours, basic wages, bonuses or allowances, leave information, and deductions such as tax and social-security contributions.

Compare yours with DIER's official payslip checklist. If no payslip was provided, record the pay date, amount received and the written request you made for it.

Before contacting DIER

Prepare these four items:

1. A one-sentence description of the problem.
2. A dated chronology no longer than one page.
3. Your calculation of the amount or entitlement affected.
4. The smallest set of documents that proves each step.

You can then use DIER's lodging-a-claim guidance to choose the correct contact or in-person process.

Related practical guides

• Employment Rights in Malta: Pay, Hours, Leave and Contracts
• Tax and Social Security in Malta: Rates, Part-Time Work and Payroll
• Working in Malta: Jobs, Permits, Tax and Employment Basics

Browse all Everyday Life guides.

Last reviewed: 9 August 2026. Complaint routes and legal deadlines can depend on the facts; obtain individual advice when dismissal or a substantial claim is involved.