Overview
Under the four-year national free childcare agreement, child carers and Centre Managers employed in childcare centres participating in the Free Childcare Scheme may be eligible for an annual allowance of €520, in addition to their standard wages, if they speak Maltese.
This allowance applies to both Maltese nationals and foreign workers who can communicate in Maltese.
What you'll get
Eligible beneficiaries may receive up to €10 per week as an allowance, in addition to their standard wages.
Claims must be submitted by the relevant deadline. Reimbursement will then be made according to the payment schedule below.
Claim period | Submission deadline | Payment period |
January to May 2026 | 15 June 2026 | July 2026 |
June 2026 | 15 July 2026 | August 2026 |
July to September 2026 | 15 October 2026 | November 2026 |
October to December 2026 | 15 January 2027 | February 2027 |
January to March 2027 | 15 April 2027 | May 2027 |
April to June 2027 | 15 July 2027 | August 2027 |
July to September 2027 | 15 October 2027 | November 2027 |
October to December 2027 | 15 January 2028 | February 2028 |
Any further deadlines will be communicated at a later stage.
Eligibility
To qualify, persons must be employed as child carers or Centre Managers in childcare centres licensed by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE), and must be duly certified by DQSE to hold these occupations.
They must also meet one of the following criteria:
Maltese nationals holding a School Leaving Certificate or an Ordinary Level pass in Maltese; or
Maltese Nationals with an MQF Level 4 or Level 5 qualification in childcare who do not holds a School-Leaving Certificate or Maltese O Level Certificate. In such cases, the childcare centre must identify these individuals and declare that they are fluent in Maltese; or
Persons holding a certificate in Maltese equivalent to, or higher than, MQF Level 2.
How to apply
The Centres need to apply for a refund of allowance paid to their Carers and Centre Managers.
Access and download the Maltese Language Allowance For Childcare Employees Claim Forms from the Jobsplus website here.
Select the most suitable form:
• Use the Carer Form if submitting a claim for one or a few carers.
• Use the Centre Form if submitting a claim for multiple carers.Complete the form with all required details.
Review the form for correctness and sign it.
Send the completed form to carerallowance.jobsplus@gov.mt
Forms must reach Jobsplus by the deadlines listed further below.
