Working Conditions in Malta

Permits:

Malta is an EU member. An employment licence is required for foreign crew working on the island. A block application for this employment licence may be made depending on the country of origin. Application fees and processing times differ for crew coming from EU countries (and including Norway, Switzerland and Iceland) and for non-EU crew members. Non EU-applications generally require six weeks for processing.  In practice some productions shooting for a short amount of time choose not to apply for the employment licences especially when their crew and cast are not being paid in Malta. However this practice is technically not according to the current regulations.

For location shooting in Malta, when filming in public areas consent from the relevant local council is required, with common practice being that a donation is made to the local council at the discretion of the production company. 

For use of government property or specific areas such as listed sites or protected environments, permits or approval from the appropriate authorities are needed. 

All public authorities and organizations apply different location fees and administration prices.

Working and Turnaround Hours:

There are no crew unions in Malta, however common practice is for crews to work 11 hours + 1 hour lunch. Producers are expected to make best efforts to give 11 hours turnaround.

Salaries:

All salaries are negotiable. All rates exclude VAT. In 2010 leading producers and production managers discussed a rates guideline sheet in an effort to maintain parity amongst crew members and to have a document that is also reflective of the market rates.

Overtime:

Overtime is paid at time and a half of the normal rate whilst Sundays and Public Holidays are normally at double time. This rate can sometimes be negotiated.

Social Benefits:

Depending on the contract of employment. Crew members engaged on a contract of service charge VAT at 18% and are fully responsible for payment of any Health Insurance/Social Security Contributions and other tax. Other crew members who are employed on a payroll involve fringes burdened by the producer which range from 14 to 19% depending on the weekly wage.

Allowances:

Allowances vary from production to production but on average most companies give between €30 — €60.

Accommodation costs vary according to season, though almost all the 5 star hotels offer good deals for film crews. Rates for 5 star hotels can vary depending on the season and the number of room nights; starting from €90 per night for a standard room on single occupancy to €150 per night for a suite.

Actor’s wages:

Day rates for local actors and day players are negotiable, with a typical day rate for an actor being in the region of €300/day.

Extras:

• Extras are normally paid between €60 — €70/day
• Special skilled extras are normally between €90 — €120/day.
• Productions pay a withholding tax of 15% on all extras employed.

VAT:

VAT is charged at 18% and is refundable on qualifying goods and services utilized by a production. For hotels and accommodation it is 7% which is usually embedded already in the room rate. Refunds take five months to process from the scheduled submission date of application.

Incentives:

The Maltese government offers eligible productions a cash rebate of up to 22% of qualifying EU expenditure in Malta once filming is complete.  A Cultural Test has to be passed. Further information can be obtained from the Malta Film Commission website. (www.mfc.com.mt)

Weather:

Malta has hot and dry summers with about 12 hours of sunshine and mild winters which allow about 10 shooting hours.

Sources:

• Malta Film Commission: www.mfc.com.mt/
• The Producer's Creative Partnership: www.pcpmalta.com