Reference year 2026
Version 2026
Drafted by Pierre Dalmas, Deputy Principal QA, Student Academic Management and WBL, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) - Member of Cedefop Community of apprenticeship experts for Malta
Τhe main legal documents relevant to apprenticeship include:
(i) the Work-based Learning and Apprenticeship Act (Cap. 576) is the legal document which has reformed the regulation of apprenticeships. It was established on 6th March 2018. It includes the basis for: the accreditation of the training programme; the constitution of qualifications and awards; the acquisition of the relevant Skills card/s; training programme plan as part of the training agreement; the rights and obligations of the VET provider; the rights and obligations of sponsor; the rights and obligations of the learners; termination; operational boards; disputes between parties involved; power of regulation.
(ii) the Employment and Training Services Act (Cap. 343) , is the legal document which includes the terms and conditions for employers to engage apprentices (refer to Part VII of this Act dedicated to the recruitment of apprentices and trainees). Subsidiary legislation defines matters related to: (i) the qualifications required for apprentices; (ii) period of apprenticeship and working hours; (iii) renumeration; (iv) practical training that the employers provide; (v) holidays, additional renumeration, etc.
As per Article 2 of the 'Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Act' (Cap. 576), an 'apprentice' is a "learner engaged in training programmes for apprenticeships in
accordance with this Act".
Furthermore, in the same Act an 'apprenticeship' is defined as a "programme in which apprentices are engaged on joint programmes of school-based learning at a licensed VET provider and work-based learning with a registered sponsor, leading to a recognised vocational qualification or award."
The 'Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Act' allows for apprenticeship schemes at higher levels to be offered.
A number of apprenticeship modalities exists at EQF/MQF vocational levels 3, 4 and 6 with different assigned workloads translating to apprenticeship hours assigned at the place of work.
Cedefop’s VET in Europe database provides additional information on the national VET system and the position of apprenticeships within it: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/vet-in-europe/systems/malta-u2&n…;
Apprenticeships in Malta have a long history and already existed as a form of financial incentive for youth back in the early 19th century. The first official state technical school dates back to 1893 when apprenticeships were offered in carpentry, joinery, carving and stucco work.
There are other forms of work-based learning in Malta that may be legally regulated in the same way as apprenticeships as per Cap. 576:
1. it takes place in tertiary education as well as in VET in teacher-training, healthcare sector, medicine, pharmacy, etc.;
Also, there are other forms of work-based learning in Malta that are not legally regulated in the same way as apprenticeships include:
1. non-apprenticeship VET courses where students spend time at the workplace;
2. the Jobsplus offers work placements or traineeships to job seekers (to all unemployed, among them young people) to facilitate their transition into work;
3. Malta has a number of private VET providers where some of their courses also include work-based learning;
4. training opportunities for persons with disability are offered through the Lino Spiteri Foundation.