Inclusion, Equality and Social Welfare

Paternity Leave will apply to fathers as well as second parents who are in employment. Fathers or equivalent second parents shall have the right to paternity leave of ten (10) working days that is to be taken on the occasion of the birth or the adoption of the worker's child. Such paternity leave will have to be paid in full by  the employer to the employee.

Employers shall then claim a refund with the Department of Social Security for the ten (10) working days Paternity Leave period.

In compensation, the Maternity Trust Fund Contribution that came into effect as of 1st July 2015 through Legal Notice 257 of 2015 (Trusts and Trustees Act Cap. 331.), shall be adjusted to reflect the Work-Life Balance entitlements set up by Legal Notice 201 of 2022, of 2nd August.

The Public Service and Public Sector Entities, Authorities, Agencies and Public Corporations are exempt from this scheme’s contribution. However, Public Service and Public Sector employees are nonetheless entitled to paid Paternity/Adoption Leave.

Under this scheme, employers will pay the ten (10) working days of paternity/adoption leave to their employees which immediately follow the birth of child and then apply via a specific online application for a Refund from the Trust Fund when the employee returns to work. A claim for refund should be made for each individual employee to cover:

• The expense of gross basic wage,
• Pro-rata statutory bonuses and allowances, and
• The employer’s portion of employee’s Social Security  Contributions.

The refund claim is not to include any other emoluments.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

General eligibility criteria:

For Parental / Adoption Leave there needs to be an evidenced birth or adoption by the employee who is employed with the claiming employer for at least one (1) calendar year before the Parental / Adoption Leave Claim.

This means that, the employee should be employed with the claiming employer for a period of one (1) calendar year before the commencement date of Parental / Adoption Leave.

Other Scenarios

• The Maternity-Work-Life Balance Leave Contribution should still be paid according to the basic weekly wage for employees on half-pay.

•  It should also be paid for part-timers working on irregular hours, which is to be calculated according to the basic weekly wage.

Church Schools

Teachers working in Church Schools are not considered as public officers and therefore Maternity Leave Contribution
should be paid in their respect.

Documentation required

General documentation:

•  Social Security Contributions receipts issued by the Commissioner for Taxes and Customs (CfR), covering one (1) year before the Parental / Adoption Leave Claim.

•  Pay Slips for wage/salary paid during Parental / Adoption Leave.

•  FS3 of the preceding calendar year.

•  In the case of separated parents / adoptive parents, the claiming parent / adoptive parent has to provide certified evidence to the employer that he/she enjoys the legal custody of child.

•  In the case of Adoption, an Adoption Certificate is required.

•  List of the Company Employees from JobsPlus, indicating employment commencement date at least one (1) year prior to the Parental / Adoption Leave Claim.

Fill in and submit the application online.