Job options if you don't (yet) speak Maltese

3POSTS

9 years ago

Hi all

We are relocating to Malta in the next 5 months however I've recently been told that most foreigners work in i'gaming , banking and low paid jobs in tourism and that most 'regular' jobs require Maltese language skills.

I was warned not to not make the mistake and think that everyone speaks English at work. I wasn't really assuming that but I was thinking that it would be possible to find jobs outside of i'gaming , banking and low paid jobs in tourism if we don't (yet) speak Maltese. Hubby is an electrician by trade (but currently works in data centre maintenance) and I work in admin for a professional qualification course provider.

Can anyone clarify what the job market is like realistically please.

Thanks in advance

See also

How to find a job in Valletta - Guide
Job Portals in Malta - Business
Maltese citizenship - 1 Reply
Do you speak Maltese? - 19 Replies
My Maltese job offer has been withdrawn - 8 Replies
Residence Card/ Maltese Citizenship/Maltese Passport - 4 Replies
Maltese cuisine - 11 Replies

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

There are lots of jobs beyond customer service even you do not speak Maltese. But as long as you are not a sought-after specialist in any field, no one will emply you when you are not in Malta for at least 2 years - due to obvious reasons.
You'll be amazed about the opportunities coming up after you managed to cope with this country and it's people for some time ...

I know people working in jobs they never thought this would be possible (including myself). Most of them got the jobs via friends-of-friends or word-of-mouth?

... but you have to be flexible and open minded ... and first of all: To win you have to stay in the game?

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

We've been here 4 weeks. I was hired to come and fill a specific position but my husband is looking for a job now we are here. Looking at the jobs advertised on the ETC site and Maltapark, he hasn't seen much other than tourism, call centre or low paid manual work where Maltese isn't required. When he has enquired about a few jobs he hasn't had a response.

Therefore we will be doing what matm911 is mentioning and will try the 'who you know' route to try and find something that makes use of his skills, is convenient to where we live etc. I'm hoping my colleagues at work will help.

Luckily we have one income so it's not urgent to find him something (apart from he is very bored!). I personally wouldnt like to come out here and both be looking for jobs, but not want to work in the fields you mention above.

Good luck

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

Depends what you consider as low paid?

800 a month is low, 1200 is average everything above 1500 is considered as a good salary for a job with normal office hours. Gaming Jobs pay higher salaries, but they require work on weekends, public holidays and night shifts ... that's not my idea of a relax lifestyle ... and I prefer to have "flexible" working hours?

We had several threads before listing job platforms - ETC and Maltapark imho stands for low qualified jobs, tourism and customer service.

Better to search for companies and check their websites. Most companies in export and international sales, like Logistics, Shipping, Manufacturing, Pharma, Oil&Gas are constantly offering jobs where Maltese is not mandatory, but "international" experience ... in this sector the official working language is English?

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

Yeah we've been searching individual companies too and that is the only way my husband has contacted anyone (ie not Maltapark, ETC). No responses yet.

Not seeing many actual vacancies at the moment through that route either but we will keep looking!

He hasn't approached any agencies yet (as per other discussions about finding work on this forum). Firstly because he prefers a direct approach with employers and secondly because we're not sure whether the agencies are advertising jobs that he really wants to do. But we will keep them in mind if the direct approach + 'who you know' approach aren't getting us anywhere!

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

Looking for a "good" job?

in summer is not easy since many companies are in "summer mode". No reply is common for most companies (not only in Malta) - and it does not actually mean they are not interested.

The company (with foreign roots) I'm currently working for does not give a lot on agencies, since most of them only perform keyword searches, but not proper recruitment (you only have to check the working history of the recruiters on Linkedin to know why they are as they are?

) - and this causes the same amount of work PLUS commission fees.

btw, some time ago ETC send me to a very interesting? job interview to the Saluting Battery (you know, the one in Valletta with the big guns). The responsible employment specialist thought "Heritage Site Manager" has something to do with my previous work experience ... ok, ok, sounds similar ... and I could have fired a gun every day at 12 noon and even get paid for it?

2 members reacted to this post

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

Now that would be a fun job!

Yeah I agree re agencies. Some are good but if we can get away without using one then I'm sure an employer will appreciate not having to pay commission.

We will persevere, in the meantime he will just have to be bored! He has even tried contacting community places about volunteering, or doing free work for the experience at certain companies, but still no response as yet

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

felinefine81 wrote:
in the meantime he will just have to be bored!

Bored ? Why ? Hey, this is Malta, and there's a lot to do ... or start exploring Sicily !
When I came here I was not working for the first 6 months, just discovering Malta?
Then after 5 months employment I was fed up, quit and started enjoying my life for another 8 months before I decided to start working again ...

1 member reacted to this post

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

Because I am working and he doesn't want to explore without me. Also we don't have a car because the rental prices are crazy at the moment and we can't buy until EID cards arrive.

Finally, during the day at the moment it is too hot to explore - remember we came from Scotland! We had a 20 degree Celsius increase on the day we arrived! That will improve in the coming weeks though

GuestPoster708 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

#10

I would suggest signing up for Keepmeposted as it is perfect, since you get notifications of job listings in the areas/fields you have listed as interested

1 member reacted to this post

GuestPoster708 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

#11

You don't need to speak Maltese to get a good job. I came here last February and was offered two jobs within a month. It is only in banking, insurance etc you need to speak Maltese.

GuestPoster708 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

#12

john champion wrote:
It is only in banking, insurance etc you need to speak Maltese.

And even these have exceptions - I work in insurance and I don't speak Maltese

paulolly Active member

93POSTS

9 years ago

#13

Tinna9 wrote:
john champion wrote:
It is only in banking, insurance etc you need to speak Maltese.

And even these have exceptions - I work in insurance and I don't speak Maltese

There is a HSBC UK call centre in Malta

mantasmo Contributor

194POSTS

9 years ago

#14

matm911 wrote:
800 a month is low, 1200 is average everything above 1500 is considered as a good salary for a job with normal office hours.

Really? That seems quite low to me considering the cost of living in most places.

Edit: actually you're right my bad. Malta average GROSS wage this year was about 17000/year so that's 1400/month minus taxes and social security which is around 1200/month or so I guess. Your figures are spot on.

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

#15

I believe most foreigners with decent education and respective experience should be able to find a job (after a few years in Malta) in management or senior position and earn at least some 30k+ per year.
But most of the local workers/clerks, which are the majority of the workforce here, would be more than happy with everything beyond 1000 per month (gross or net does not really matter at this level?

)

1 member reacted to this post

blackangelheart Contributor

139POSTS

9 years ago

#16

matm911 wrote:
I believe most foreigners with decent education and respective experience should be able to find a job (after a few years in Malta) in management or senior position and earn at least some 30k+ per year.
But most of the local workers/clerks, which are the majority of the workforce here, would be more than happy with everything beyond 1000 per month (gross or net does not really matter at this level? )

Agree! Even if you're not interested in management or senior positions but speak an additional language you can easily earn about 1500+ net salary a month in customer support. This provides a decent life in Malta for a single person IMO

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

#17

When it comes to Online Gaming business one should hurry up, since Malta Employers' Association said, "... there's the likelihood of Malta no longer receiving EU structural funds from 2020 onwards, and that of tax incentives for the gaming and financial services sectors being toned down or removed."
Then those companies will most probably move on ... on of my former employer in this sector already relocated huge parts of French speaking services to Mauritius and Spanish speaking assignments to Colombia. They offer local contracts and a salary of 300 Euro/month.

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peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#18

matm911 wrote:
felinefine81 wrote:
in the meantime he will just have to be bored!

Bored ? Why ? Hey, this is Malta, and there's a lot to do ... or start exploring Sicily !
When I came here I was not working for the first 6 months, just discovering Malta?
Then after 5 months employment I was fed up, quit and started enjoying my life for another 8 months before I decided to start working again ...

Hi may I know how did you explore Malta? I mean by driving, or walking, public transportation ?

I am seriously worrying about that now

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

#19

Hi. So far we have been using the bus and walking locally. But absolutely everyone I have spoken to who lives here says you need a car to get around and I agree. Unless perhaps you stay in a busy area where you are close to lots of shops and to your place of work.

Buses are fine when you aren't concerned about time (they don't really keep to the schedule). You also have to make connections on a lot of routes to get around the island properly. The plus side is the bus is very cheap. If you apply for a Tallinja card from the bus company, you can top it up online and you should never be charged more than €26 a month per person, no matter how many trips you take (other than on night buses I believe). I'm sure a child's crd will be cheaper and there are also reductions for the elderly and disabled.

My tallinja card arrived within a week which I was pretty impressed with.

But for grocery shopping and to properly explore you really need to drive.

I saw you mentioned that you are unsure about driving on the left. Some other things to note- poor driving standards are notorious here. I don't know what it's like where you live no, but you need your wits about you here because people don't necessarily obey the rules/law.

Also - cars are expensive here. Although they seem to retain their value well.

Just so you know what to expect.

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#20

wow thanks for quick replying !

My problem is I didn't buy the parking space when I was buying apartment in Malta. I thought I won't be driving in Malta at that time.?

I saw in another thread someone shared an online booking taxi service which I am really interested in. Probably I will be using that all the time in the future

The taxi system in Malta is really strange. Last time when we were in Malta we couldn't? get a taxi for 40 minutes, we were tired and exhausted and finally we saw a taxi passing by and the driver was the one we already knew from hotel taxi service, and he saved us

Guess I will get trained first in Malta about driving on left side then will consider about buying own car, to not bring more trouble to this busy crowded transportation system.

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

#21

Yeah you need to pre- book, or telephone (and wait for) taxis in most places. Even in the places where you can pick up a white taxi on the street, it isn't recommended to do so because they are inflated prices and sometimes dangerous driving.

Please be aware that taxis are expensive for short distances, I think there is a minimum 10€ or 12€ charge. So, I would have liked to be able to get taxis to or from work occasionally (I have an illness that affects my walking sometimes), but I can't because it would cost me 12€ to go 2.5km!

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#22

Yes sometimes we may encounter bad taxi drivers. Last time we got a taxi from Valleta to St Julia, the driver asked for 100 euros and we instantly wanted to get off the car and he said : Just kidding !

Well I actually don't know if he was really kidding... not a good joke tho.

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

#23

Oh he definitely would be trying to see what he could get from you! That's awful. We had a similar experience the first time we came to Malta with a Valletta taxi - not as bad as you though. It was before we got in the car and we just talked him down to a lower price. If you have to take a white taxi (eg others are fully booked, you don't have time to wait) then agree a price before you are in the car.

It's like they expect you to barter with them too, then they come down to an agreed price. It will still be higher than ecabs though.

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

#24

When I came here I rented a small car. Got used driving on the "other" side within 2 or 3 days. Some 2 weeks later I bought a car. About 2 months later, after I got used to the traffic and learned the main routes, I bought a scooter. Then I bought a motorcycle, then another one, and an old Land Rover ... and so on?

In 4 years I made around 20k km by scooter, 10k km by motorcycle (mainly in Sicily) and another 10-15k km by car(s).
In the beginning during the summer months sometimes I bought a day ticket and took the next bus leaving from the terminal where I leave, enjoying the a/c in the bus and watching the landscape passing by?

You cannot get lost here ...
I can recommend the Hop-On Hop-Off Buses, because sitting on the upper deck you can see what's going on behind the high stone walls - you'll be surprised?

Nange Serial expat

222POSTS

9 years ago

#25

GreenRcabs
Owned and operated by good friends of mine. Good drivers, trustworthy, professional. I highly recommend them!

Nange Serial expat

222POSTS

9 years ago

#26

I disagree that you need a car in Malta. Yes, buses can be slower than they should be for the distances travelled, but it's exactly the same with cars- and then obviously parking is a huge nightmare. I have explored lots of the isiand via bus and on occasion taxi. Why not rent a car on weekends to explore?
The attitude of car ownership being a benefit rather than a hindrance is what has contributed to the horror show of too many cars on this island. I suppose people will figure it out eventually.
And before the usual comments of 'but if you have kids/need to buy bulk groceries etc' start- I'm just saying... it is absolutely not necessary for everyone.

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#27

matm911 and name thanks for the reply.

how can I get service from GreenRcabs?

Nange Serial expat

222POSTS

9 years ago

#28

They have a site: and their number will be on it. There is a booking service like the other companies for trips to the airport, etc. They don't have a huge fleet of cars yet so waiting times vary.

Nange Serial expat

222POSTS

9 years ago

#29

Btw qzheng- please let me know if you find authentic Chinese food in Malta! I haven't had much luck and I miss it

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#30

Nange thanks !? Are you also Chinese? Your name looks like Chinese

I know there is a good Chinese restaurant beside sea , 南苑餐厅
here is the address from apple map, dunno if it works:

Xatt Pinto
Floriana
FRN
Malta

Another one is located in St Julian( the night club area, many young students around) , very closed to those gentleman clubs and Hugo Bar,? but I can't tell exactly where it is

But I think if you go to there and ask those fruit sellers they may tell you.

Nange Serial expat

222POSTS

9 years ago

#31

Thanks qzheng
I will try the one in Floriana. I dislike Paceville in St Julian's

.
I'm not Chinese (Nange is just my expat forum name) but I lived in Taiwan for three years and then Vancouver BC for a long time so until I moved to Malta I regularly ate good Chinese food!

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#32

Hi Nange, I was wondering where Paceville is , I saw many people mentioned about it , now I know it is just the place I used to stay

Young people have their crazy party during weekend night and shout on the street in midnight after drunk .

If you go to 南苑餐厅, remember to tell the chinese waitress that you want real chinese food taste, or you can just directly talk to the chef, otherwise the chef may consider you as a foreigner and change the taste to suite you. ( That was what happened on me before)

1 member reacted to this post

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

#33

Nange wrote:
I disagree that you need a car in Malta..

I agree? Especially for commuting a car is the worst means of transport here - depending where you live and where you work of course. Some regions you can reach easily, but you won't find parking.? ? Car parks offer good deals for regular customers, but charge you up to 1 Euro per 30min at peak hours?

Recently I read that the average distance of commuters is 5.2 km only. You could easily make this way with a bicycle ... but that's another story.
Government made various attempts to motivate people to leave their cars in the garages, such as 125cc regulation (license, road and registration tax), tax benefits and grants for buying electric bicycles/scooters, usage of bus lane for car pools, bicycle lanes on new road construction, bridge connections for pedestrians/bikers only, bicycle transportation on Sliema Ferry etc.
And as I noticed there are more and more people swopping to private car alternatives ... but increasing traffic is a concern in all bigger cities (and I consider Malta all in all as a 400k city)

If you need a car only from time to time you can rent one. Some smaller car rental companies with older car fleet offer them from 8 or 10 Euro per day (renting a scooter or motorcycle is much more expensive due to the rist I suppose)
Exploring the island by bus and your own feet is even better, you can concentrate on the landscape and have a hasslefree trip.

Last but not least not everyone is allowed to drive a passenger car in Malta. As Non-EU-citizen - depending on agreements - latest after 12 months your existing driving license becomes invalid. Then you either go to school for a local license, or you try to get used to public transport.

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#34

thanks matam911!

I have already noticed parking is big problem especially in the area I will be living at. The purpose of driving a car is to make life easier and happier, other than spending all the time and taking hassle to find a parking space.

But for example, if I take a taxi from sliema to somewhere for dinner, then how can I go back home at 7pm - 10 pm?

matm911 Serial expat

656POSTS

9 years ago

#35

you call a taxi (eCabs, Dialacab etc.) some hours before and agree a time for pick up. Or you call and wait, sometimes up to 45 minutes.

felinefine81 Serial expat

232POSTS

9 years ago

#36

If you aren't out too late then the buses run until around 9pm I think. There are also some night bus routes than run later. This link gives the full timetable:

However please do not rely on the times given (I just use the link for information to plan my route). Instead download the Tallinja app and use the 'my next bus' service which is more reliable. You click on the bus stop you will travel from and it will tell you which buses are arriving in the next half hour. I've found it to be fairly accurate, although I haven't yet used it at night time.

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#37

Thanks felinefine!

Fusspot Active member

99POSTS

9 years ago

#38

Some buses run up to 11pm or later and we have been on them! which is good if you have been to one the fiestas for the evening.

1 member reacted to this post

peipei9188 Active member

29POSTS

9 years ago

#39

Thanks Fusspot!

Guess bus will be a problem to me due to my poor english.

It is easier that I simply show the taxi driver my home address from my phone.?

Fusspot Active member

99POSTS

9 years ago

#40

hi qzheng7483

Not really you just ask for number of tickets as only one price, for up to two hours or get a travel card and just swipe! All information on Malta transport website, this also shows routes, bus stops and numbers to help plan journey. If you lived nearer I would go on a trip with you!!