Malta Law on National and Other Public Holidays
The National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act has been amended in February 2021 (Chapter 252) to ensure that any of such days that fall on Saturday or Sunday would be added to the official leave entitlement of an employee for that year.
Chapter 252 of the laws on Malta entitled "The National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act" has been amended in February 2021 by virtue of Act IV, 2021.
Before this, whenever a public or national holiday fell falls on a Saturday or Sunday, an employee would not benefit from such leave. However, with effect from 1st January 2021, when such national or a public holidays fall on the weekend, these will be considered as public holiday and would entitle such individual to a day of vacation leave in addition to the ordinary leave entitlement for that year.
Section 2 of Cap 252 provides that the following shall be National Holidays:
- the twenty first day of September known as Jum 1-Indipendenza,
- the thirteenth day of December known as Jum ir-Repubblika,
- the thirty first day of March known as Jum il-Helsien,
- the eighth of September known as Jum il-Vittorja,
- the seventh day of June known as the Sette Giugno.
Section 5 provides that Sundays and the days listed in the Schedule shall be public holidays.
Discretion is given to the Prime Minister to give directions as he may deem appropriate for the due celebration of the National Holidays as well as the amendment of the Schedule in Chapter 252.