Woodworks (Conditions of Work) Regulation Order, 2026

L.N. 124 of 2026

EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT

(CAP. 452)

Woodworks (Conditions of Work) Regulation Order, 2026

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 4(1) of the

Employment and Industrial Relations Act, the Minister responsible for

employment and industrial relations has made the following

regulations:-

(1) The title of this order is the Woodworks (Conditions Citation,

commencement

of Work) Regulation Order, 2026.

and

applicability.

(2) This order shall come into force within two (2) months

from its date of publication in the Gazette.

(3) The provisions established in this order shall apply to all

employees engaged in establishments manufacturing furniture, fixtures

and other articles wholly or mainly in wood, excluding smokers’ pipes

but including boats and motor vehicles bodies, upholstery and wicker

or cane work, whether natural or artificial, and for employees

employed by woodwork contractors in building and civil engineering

Provided that in the event that there is a collective

agreement applicable to the class of employees covered by this order,

the more favorable conditions in such agreement or in this order shall

prevail.

In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires

Interpretation.

"Act" means the Employment and Industrial Relations Act;

"customary holidays" means the days, other than Sundays, Cap. 252.

declared for the time being to be public holidays by, or under the

National Holidays and other Public Holidays Act;

"collective agreement" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"day" means a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive hours

commencing from midnight (12:00 a.m.) of one day to midnight

(12:00 a.m.) of the following day;

"double time" means twice the actual time rate applicable

to the employee;

"experience in the trade" means one (1) or more periods

certified by the Director, during which a person to whom this

Order applies is employed as a learner with one or more

employers, whether continuously or otherwise;

"half day" means a period of twelve (12) consecutive hours

commencing at midnight (12:00 a.m.) and ending at noon (12:00

p.m.), or commencing at noon (12:00 p.m.) and ending at

midnight (12:00 a.m.);

"hours of work" shall have the same meaning as assigned to

it in the Act;

"part-time employee" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"period of employment" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"recognised breaks" means breaks which are customary

among particular sections of employees to which this order

applies;

"rest period" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it

in the Organisation of Working Time Regulations;

"whole-time employee" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"time-and-a-half" means one and a half times the actual

time rate applicable to the employee;

"wages" means remuneration or earnings, payable by an

employer to an employee and includes any bonus payable under

article 23 of the Act, other than any bonus or allowance related to

performance or production;

"week" means a calendar week;

"whole-time employee" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act.

(1) The minimum weekly remuneration for whole-time

employees, other than watchpersons, shall be related to a week of not

more than forty (40) hours of work, exclusive of overtime and of

recognised breaks for meal time and rest

Provided that for day workers, such hours of work shall be

distributed over a five (5) day week, Monday to Friday or Tuesday to

Saturday.

(2) The minimum weekly remuneration for watchpersons shall

be related to a week not exceeding fifty-two (52) hours of work,

exclusive of overtime, distributed over six (6) days.

Subject to the provisions of article 8 of this order, the Minimum

minimum wage rates payable to whole-time employees, shall be the remuneration

whole-time

following

employees.

(a) (i) watchpersons whose duties are mainly

performed indoors.......................................................... €298.27;

(ii) watchpersons whose duties are mainly

performed out doors........................................................€300.60;

(b)

other whole-time employees.........................€229.44.

(1) When the employee is required to wear a uniform in Uniform

the performance of the employee’s duties, such uniform shall be allowance.

provided by the employer free of charge.

(2) Personal protective equipment according to the Minimum S.L. 424.21.

Requirements for the use of Personal Protective Equipment at Work

Regulations shall also be provided by the employer free of charge.

Whole-time employees, other than watchpersons, shall be Minimum daily

allowed intervals for meals and rest of not less than one (1) hour in the rest.

aggregate on any day on which the hours of work exceed five and a

half (5 1/2) hours .

All employees shall be entitled to a rest period according to Minimum

weekly rest.

the Organisation of Working Time Regulations.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article and of article Minimum

4 of this order, minimum overtime rates are payable to all whole-time overtime rates.

employees, other than watchmen, to whom this order applies, shall be

follows

(a) on any day, being a working day in respect of the

particular employee, for all time worked in excess of eight (8)

hours................................................................. time-and-a-half;

(b) for all time worked on any day, other than a Sunday

or a customary holiday, not being a working day in respect of the

particular employee........................................... time-and-a-half;

(c) for all time worked in excess of forty (40) hours in

any week exclusive of any time paid for at overtime

rates................................................................... time-and-a-half;

(d)

for all hours work on a Sunday.............. double-time;

(e) for

all

time

worked

on

a

customary

holiday..................................................................... double-time

Provided that in any week which includes a

customary holiday on a working day overtime at time-and-a-half

shall be payable for work in excess of thirty-two (32) hours,

exclusive at time paid for at overtime rates, to all employees

other than watchpersons.

(2) Overtime at the rate of time-and-a-half shall be payable to

watchpersons for all time worked in excess of fifty-two (52) hours in a

period of six (6) consecutive days, and for all time worked on the

seventh day.

L-impjegat għandu jedd għal-leave kull sena skont ir-

Regolamenti dwar l-Organizzazzjoni tal-Ħin tax-Xogħol.

The employee shall be entitled to annual leave in

accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Regulations.

(1) A whole-time employee shall in every calendar year

be entitled to the equivalent in hours of twelve (12) days sick leave on

full pay, less an amount equal to the sum established for sickness

benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security

Act, and part-time employees shall have a pro rata entitlement to sick

leave in hours on full pay, less an amount equal to the sum established

for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established in accordance

with the Social Security Act, which amount is also to be calculated on

a pro rata basis

Provided that

(a) the first three (3) days of any claim for sick leave

shall be paid in full by the employer;

(b) a medical certificate covering the period of absence

shall be produced to the employer on the day of return to work

or, if such period of absence is longer than seven (7) days, within

seven (7) days of the onset of sick leave absence;

(c) employees in receipt of a social security pension in

respect of retirement or widowhood in accordance with of the

Social Security Act shall, for the purpose of calculating the sick

leave pay due, be deemed to have received an amount equal to

the sum established for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate

established in accordance with the Social Security Act.

(2) A whole-time employee shall in every calendar year be

entitled to the equivalent in hours of a further twelve (12) days sick

leave on half pay, less an amount equal to half the sum established for

sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established in accordance with

the Social Security Act, and part-time employees shall have a pro rata Cap. 318.

entitlement to sick leave in hours on half pay, less an amount equal to

half the established set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate

established in accordance with the Social Security Act, which amount

is also to be calculated on a pro rata basis

Provided that

(a) the first three (3) days of any claim for sick leave

shall be paid at half pay by the employer;

(b) a medical certificate covering the period of absence

shall be produced to the employer on the day of return to work

or, if such period of absence is longer than seven (7) days, within

seven (7) days of the onset of sick leave absence;

(c) employees in receipt of a social security pension in

respect of retirement or widowhood in accordance with of the

Social Security Act shall, for the purpose of calculating the sick Cap. 318.

leave pay due, be deemed to have received an amount equal to

half the sum established for sickness benefit entitlement at the

rate established under the Social Security Act.

(3) Sick leave entitlements shall apply from the first day of

employment

Provided that the said entitlements shall be calculated pro

rata according to the date of employment in the relative calendar year.

(4) The employer may require a medical certificate by his own

physician to certify incapacity for work during the period of absence.

(5) For the purposes of this article a break in employment of

not more than thirty (30) days shall not be deemed to interrupt the

continuity of service.

(6) The sick leave entitlement shall be calculated on the basis

provided for annual leave as specified in regulation 8(1) of the

Organisation of Working Time Regulations.

An employee shall be entitled to the payment of the Waiting time.

minimum remuneration applicable to him for all time during which he

is present on the premises of his employer or in any other place in

connection with his employment unless he is present thereon in any of

the following circumstances

(a)

without the employer’s express or implied consent;

(b) for some purpose unconnected with his work and

other than that of waiting for work to be given to him to perform;

(c)

by reason only of the fact that he is resident thereon;

(d) during recognised breaks for meals and rest, and he is

not waiting for work to be given to him to perform.

12. Employees are entitled to the national holidays and to all

public holidays with full pay, to all forms of leave according to the

Minimum Special Leave Entitlement Regulations and all other forms

of leave that may from time to time be stipulated in the National

Standard Orders or regulations made under the Act.

The Woodworks Wages Council Order and the Woodworks

Wages Council Wage Regulation Order are hereby repealed without

prejudice to anything done or omitted to be done thereunder.

€0.54