Malta may drop license rule after EU notice

In a new development in Malta, long-term residents of the country may soon be able to live and work in the country without discrimination. A serious warning has been issued to Malta by the EU Commission. The Commission has urged Malta to remove the rule needing the residents to get an employment license to become employed in the country.

The EU Commission has noticed that Malta has failed to fulfill its obligation in adhering to the Long-Term Residence Directive (2003/109.EC). Hence, the Commission has taken the step to initiate an infringement procedure against Malta.

As the Commission put it across, the Maltese authorities were made aware of the term in Article 11(1) of the Directive. It says that the long-term residents are eligible to enjoy equal treatment when it comes to access to employment. This also includes the working conditions and conditions of employment. As of now, these terms are not complied with by Malta.

In Malta, non-EU nationals who are also long-term residents in the country must have an employment license. The employer of the resident has to apply for it addressing the application to the Employment Licenses Unit. The mandatory license has a 1-year validity and is renewable.

This practice was raised in the infringements package od the EU Commission in July. It has more ground for criticism as citizens of Malta aren’t needed to apply and get such a license to be employed in the country. Such discrimination has attracted action from the EU Commission.

The Commission has given 3 months’ time to Malta to respond to the letter of formal notice in this case. If all goes well, the discriminatory law in Malta will be scrapped by the Maltese government.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Europe, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Croatia is now open to US, third country citizens