As provided by Article 45 of the Industrial & Employment Relations Act (Cap. 452) when an employer fails to comply with any recognised conditions of employment provided by employment legislation, the Department of Industrial & Employment Relations has the authority cause the offending employer to be summoned before the Malta Criminal Law Courts.  If convicted, the employer will be obliged to pay a Fine (multa).

XIV of 2025 -Employment and Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2025 provides for a hefty increase in the sums payable with regard to such fines.

The minimum fine payable for the commission of the first offence has increased from a minimum fine of €2000 (from €232.94) up to a maximum fine of €5000 (from 2329.37).

Upon conviction, the fine payable for each subsequent offence committed will be not less than €5000 and not more than €7000.

These will come into effect two (2) months after the publication of the Amendment to the Act in the Government Gazette.  Such Amendment to the Act was published in the Gazette of Malta No. 21,450 on the 6 June 2025; meaning that the new fines will be applicable from the 6 August 2025 onwards.