Third-country nationals seeking tourism and catering jobs will require skills card from 2024

Updated at 6:30pm with MHRA reaction 

Starting from January 2024, all new third-country nationals (TCNs) applying to relocate to Malta for employment within the tourism and hospitality industry will now be required to sit for a number of courses before stepping foot on the island. 

This was announced during a press briefing as it was explained that by 2025, all tourism and hospitality workers will require a skills card to work in the industry.

The courses, which tackle English proficiency, basic customer care, and knowledge on the Maltese tourism product, will be conducted by the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS).

Briefing the media, ITS CEO Pierre Fenech stated that the industry requires quality workers, and a skills card is the first step in a long journey to ensure that this is achieved. Fenech noted that the staff turnover within the industry has been significant, explaining that this is a result of large volumes of untrained workers.

The same sentiment had been noted this summer, as a Gozo Tourism Association survey saw that over 77% of tourism businesses employ foreigners but have problems retaining staff.

From the beginning of 2024, when an employer within the industry requests to employ TCNs, the potential employees will be required to complete the relevant online courses. Upon passing the courses, the applicants can progress with their work permit registration with Identità. 

If the applicant’s work permit is granted by Identità, the applicant must schedule an appointment with ITS three weeks prior to their arrival in Malta, in order to sit for in-person assessments. The assessments are to be held within three business days after an applicant’s arrival in Malta. 

Should an applicant fail their in-person assessment, ITS informs Identità in order for the TCN to be expatriated. Should they pass, Identità confirms the applicant’s work permit. 

The employers in question must be registered by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), which finally issues the skills cards. 

By October 2024, all employees seeking renewal for their work permit will also be required to sit for the courses, and by January 2025, this extends to Maltese and EU citizens.

From his end, Identità CEO Mark Mallia stated that the agency will work closely with ITS in order to verify an applicant’s skills.

Meanwhile, tourism minister, Clayton Bartolo stated that government has already consulted with the relevant stakeholders who responded positively to the proposed changes. 

Home affairs minister, Byron Camilleri told the media that government will be carefully monitoring the effects of the changes in order to implement similar requisites in other industries.

MHRA welcomes announcement

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said it believes that it is important that those seeking work in Malta have the necessary skills before they arrive in the country.  

“However, solutions need to be well planned and sufficiently practical to avoid precipitating the existing challenges linked to labour supply shortages in the hotel and restaurant sector. This is a new reality Europe is facing with most countries registering significant staff shortages. Malta is no different,” it said.

The MHRA will be reviewing in further detail the proposed process for implementation to ensure that it will not burden the rightful recruitment of foreign workers to Malta as these are key for the survival and efficient operation of the hospitality industry, which is increasingly becoming dependent on the recruitment of expats.

MHRA will be discussing the announced modus operandi of the scheme and related costs with the relevant authorities, which is bound to further increase operational costs and make the process of recruitment more difficult than it already is. “MHRA needs to also ensure that the process related to the issuing of the skills card is an efficient and expedient one.”