On 6th July 2015 the Malta Government established The Maternity Leave Trust Fund (“MLTF”).

The fund has been set up to support employers in the private sector with paying employees statutory maternity leave for the first fourteen weeks of maternity leave with full wages.

The MLTF is aimed at ending indirect gender discrimination to avoid the situation where employers would have preferred to employ men instead of women since they did not wish to pay maternity leave.

The Fund will be financed through a minimal contribution from all employers who are required to pay Social Security contributions. Such contributions have to be paid for every employee, irrespective of whether the employee is male or a female.

The level of contribution to be paid by employers is the equivalent of 0.3% of the basic wage for each employee.

If you have any questions about the above or any other Payroll related matter please contact your usual RSM contact or [email protected].