   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  1
CHAPTER 343
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ACT
To provide for a National Employment Authority, for the establishment of an Employment
and Training Corporation and for the regulation of employment and training services, and for
matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto.
7th August, 1990
5th November, 1990
1st January, 1996
ACT XXVIII of 1990, as amended by Acts XV of 1995 and XVI of 1997.
.
ARRANGEMENT OF ACT
Articles 
Part I.  Preliminary  1-2 
Part II.  The National Employment Authority  3-4 
Part III.  The Employment and Training Corporation  5-17 
Part IV.  Administrative and Financial Provisions relating to the
Corporation  18-22 
Part V.  Employment Agencies  23-25 
Part VI.  Manpower Records  26-28 
Part VII.  Apprentices and Trainees  29-45 
Part VIII.  Enforcement, Offences and Penalties  46-53
Part IX.  Miscellaneous  54-56
SCHEDULE 
  2      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
PART I
P R E L I M I N A R Y  
Short title. l. The short title of this Act is the Employment and Training
Services Act.
Interpretation. 2. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires -
"Authority" means the National Employment Authority
established by article 3;
"Board" means the Board of the Corporation;
"Corporation" means the Employment and Training Corporation
established by article 5 and, to the extent of the authority given,
includes any officer of the Corporation duly authorised by it in that
behalf;
"dependants" means individuals wholly or mainly dependant for
their maintenance on an individual and being in relation to such
individual - 
(i) if married - his wife, her husband, his or her
children or stepchildren, his or her
grandchildren if the parents are dead;
(ii) if unmarried - his or her children, his or her
father, or his or her mother, his or her unmarried
brothers or sisters;
(iii) if a widower or widow - his or her children or
stepchildren, his or her grandchildren, if their
parents are dead;
"Director" means the Director of Labour and includes any officer
of the Department of Labour who is authorised by the Director to
act on his behalf; 
"employment agency" or "employment business" means any
activity carried out in Malta for the recruitment of persons for
employment in Malta or outside Malta;
"financial year" means the period of twelve months ending on the
thirtieth of September of any year:
Provided that the first financial year of the Corporation shall
commence on the date of the coming into force of this Act and shall
and on the thirtieth day of September of the following year;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for labour and
includes, to the extent of the authority given, any person authorised
by the said Minister in that behalf for any purpose of this Act;
"person" includes a body of persons and any body corporate
established by law;
"prescribe" means prescribe by regulations made under this Act;
 "Register" means the Register referred to in article 11.
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  3
PART II
T H E  N A T I O N A L  E M P L O Y M E N T  A U T H O R I T Y
National 
Employment 
Authority.
3. (1) The President of Malta shall appoint a National
Employment Authority composed of three independent persons,
two other persons appearing to the President to represent the
interests of employers and two other persons appearing to the
President to represent the interests of employees. In this article
"independent persons" means persons who are neither Government
employees nor officials of any organization representing employers
or employees.
(2) The President shall also appoint a secretary to the
Authority.
(3) One of the independent members of the Authority shall be
appointed by the President to be chairman and another deputy
chairman.
(4) Every member of the Authority shall, before entering upon
his duties, take an oath of office before the Attorney General in the
form set out in the Schedule to this Act.
(5) Every member of the Authority shall hold office for a term
of two years and if otherwise qualified may be re-appointed at the
end of his term of office.
(6) The President may determine the remuneration payable to
the members of the Authority.
(7) No member of the Authority may be removed from office
before the expiration of his appointment except by the President
upon a resolution of the House of Representatives praying for such
removal on the ground of proven misbehaviour or inability to
perform the functions of his office:
Provided that if the House of Representatives stands
dissolved or prorogued or adjourned for more than fourteen days, it
shall be lawful for the President to suspend any member from his
office on the ground of misbehaviour or inability to perform the
functions of his office, so however, that such suspensions shall not
extend beyond the first three sittings of the House of Represent-
atives immediately following the date of such suspensions.
(8) The quorum of the Authority shall be of three members, one
of whom shall be the chairman or the deputy chairman.
(9) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (8), the Authority
shall not be disqualified from the transaction of business on
account of any vacancy among its members.
(10) The Director and/or any person deputed by him shall have
the right to be present at all meetings of the Authority and to be
heard on any matter.
  4      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
(11)  The proceedings of the Authority may, if the Authority so
considers expedient, be conducted  in camera .
(12) Decisions of the Authority shall be taken by majority of the
votes of the members present. The chairman or, in his absence, the
deputy chairman, shall have only a casting vote.
(13) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any regulations
made thereunder, the Authority may regulate its own proceedings. 
Cap. 9. (14) For the purposes of the following articles of the Criminal
Code, that is to say, article 91, articles 115, 119 and 120, articles
124 and 125, article 133 and article 138, the members of the
Authority shall be deemed to be public officers.
Functions of the 
Authority.
4. (1) The functions of the Authority shall be:
( a ) to monitor employment and to investigate and
adjudicate, in such manner as it may determine, any
complaints which any interested party may bring
before it regarding employment and training services
provided by the Corporation;
( b ) to hear appeals as provided for in this Act;
( c ) to tender advice to the Minister on any matter relating
to the employment or training of workers, either at the
request of the Minister or on its own initiative,
including proposals for regulations for such purposes
or in such circumstances as in the opinion of the
Minister or of the Authority it is necessary or
expedient to make provision by regulation;
( d ) to make rules subject to the provisions of this Act:
(i) regarding the circumstances under which a
person registered for employment may lose his
priority for referral for employment; and
(ii) providing for special consideration to be given
to determinate classes of applicants being
applicants with dependants, applicants who are
disabled, infirm or incapacitated or applicants
requiring physical or social rehabilitation;
( e ) such other functions as are or may be assigned to it by
this Act or any other law.
(2) Where the Authority acts as a tribunal to hear appeals as
provided in paragraph ( b ) of the foregoing subarticle, the following
provisions shall, without prejudice to the provisions of any
regulations made under article 54, apply:
( a ) the Authority shall reject any appeal which is not made
in writing within the time specified in the provision of
this Act allowing such appeal;
( b ) the chairman of the Authority or in his absence the
deputy chairman shall have the powers to summon
witnesses and to administer an oath to any witness and
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  5
to require him to give evidence or to produce books or
other documents before it;
( c ) summons for attendance of witnesses shall be signed
by the chairman or, in his absence, the deputy
chairman, and may be served either personally or by
registered post, and in the latter case, in proving
service, it shall be sufficient to prove that the
summons was properly addressed and posted;
( d ) all persons summoned to attend and give evidence at
any sitting of the Authority shall be bound to obey the
summons served on them; and any person refusing or
omitting without sufficient cause to attend at the day,
time and place mentioned in the summons served on
him or to answer, to the best of his knowledge and
belief, all questions put to him by or with the
concurrence of the Authority, or to produce books or
other documents required by the Authority to be
produced before it, shall be guilty of an offence
against this Act:
Provided that no person giving evidence before the
Authority shall be compelled to incriminate himself
and every such person shall, in respect of any evidence
given by him before the Authority, be entitled to all the
privileges to which a person giving evidence before a
court of law is entitled in respect of evidence given by
him before such court;
( e ) the decisions of the Authority on any appeal made
under this Act shall be final.
(3) The Authority shall, in January of each year, submit a
report of its activities to the Minister who shall lay the same on the
Table of the House of Representatives not later than the sitting first
occurring after thirty days from its receipt.
PART III
T H E  E M P L O Y M E N T   A N D  T R A I N I N G  C O R P O R A T I O N
Establishment of 
the Corporation.
5. (1) There shall be an Employment and Training
Corporation.
(2) The Corporation shall be a body corporate having a distinct
legal personality and shall be capable of entering into contracts, of
acquiring, holding and disposing of any property for the purpose of
its functions under this Act, of suing and of being sued, and of
doing all such things and entering into all such transactions as are
incidental or conducive to the exercise or performance of its
functions under this Act.
Conduct of affairs 
of the Corporation.
6. (1) The affairs and business of the Corporation shall be the
responsibility of and shall be conducted by a board of directors,
which shall be known as "the Board". The legal representation of
the Corporation shall be vested in the chairman or in any other
director as the Board may by resolution designate. Any such
  6      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
resolution shall be published in the Gazette as soon as may be after
its approval and shall not have effect until it is so published.
(2) The Board shall consist of such number of directors, being
not less than seven, as the Minister may from time to time appoint.
Three of the members of the Board shall be appointed, after due
consultation with the ministers concerned, from amongst such
persons as best represent the ministries responsible for labour, for
education and for industry.
(3) The chairman of the Board and a deputy chairman shall be
appointed by the Minister from amongst members of the Board. 
(4) Where the chairman is absent from Malta or is otherwise
temporarily unable to perform the functions of his office, or where
the post of chairman is temporarily vacant, the deputy chairman
shall act as chairman.
(5) The chairman and the other directors shall be appointed
yearly and shall hold office under such terms and conditions as the
Minister may deem proper; and they shall be eligible for
reappointment.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to any directions
of the Board, the executive conduct of the Corporation, its
administration and organisation, and the administrative control of
its officers and servants shall be the responsibility of the chief
executive of the Corporation who shall also have such other powers
as may from time to time be delegated to him by the Board. The
chief executive shall have the right to attend and be heard at all
meetings of the Board. He shall not, however, have a vote or be
counted for the purpose of constituting a quorum.
(7) The provisions of article 3(14) shall  mutatis mutandis  apply
to the Corporation, the chief executive and other employees of the
Corporation.
Disqualification 
for appointment, 
removal and 
resignation of 
directors.
7. (1) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed, or to
hold office as a member of the Board if he -
( a ) is a member of the House of Representatives; or 
( b ) is legally incapacitated; or
( c ) has been declared bankrupt or has made a composition
or arrangement with his creditors; or
( d ) has been convicted of a crime affecting public trust or
theft or fraud or of knowingly receiving property
obtained by theft or fraud.
(2) A member of the Board may be relieved of office by the
Minister on the ground of inability to perform the functions of his
office, whether due to infirmity of mind or of body, or to any other
cause, or on the ground of misbehaviour.
(3) A member of the Board may resign his office by means of a
letter to the Minister.
Meetings of the 
Board of directors.
8. (1) The Board shall meet as often as may be necessary or
expedient, but in no case less frequently than once every three
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  7
months. Meetings shall be called by the chairman either on his own
initiative or at the request of any two of the other members.
(2) The Board shall not act unless a quorum consisting of not
less than half the number of members is present.
(3) The meetings of the Board shall be chaired by the chairman
or, in his absence, by the deputy chairman.
(4) The decisions of the Board shall be taken by a majority of
the votes of the members present and voting; and in the case of an
equality of votes the chairman, or in his absence the deputy
chairman, shall have and exercise a second or casting vote.
(5) Any vacancy among the members of the Board, and any
participation therein by a person not entitled so to do, shall not
invalidate the proceedings of the said Board.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may
regulate its own proceedings.
Status of the 
Corporation.
9. (1) The Corporation shall have such functions as are set
out in this Act and such other functions as may devolve upon it
under any other law, or as may be assigned to it by the Minister.
(2) The Corporation shall consider any matter relating to the
formulation of an overall national policy for employment and
training, and all matters relating to any of its functions under this
Act, and the Corporation may also advise any department of
Government on such matters.
(3) The Corporation shall afford the Minister the necessary
facilities for obtaining information with respect to the property and
activities of the Corporation, and furnish him with returns,
accounts and other information with respect thereto, and afford him
the necessary facilities for the verification of the information
furnished in such manner and at such time as he may require.
(4) The Minister may, after consultation with the Corporation,
give to the Corporation such directives in writing as he may deem
appropriate, being directives of a general character not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act and the Corporation shall comply
with such directives.
(5) In carrying out any of its functions under this Act, or in any
other thing or activity, the Corporation shall conform its policies
and activities with the aims and objectives of national economic
planning from time to time in force.
(6) The Corporation may, with the approval of the Minister,
exercise its functions under this Act through the agency of other
persons, and may act as agent or otherwise on behalf of other
persons.
Functions of the 
Corporation in 
relation to the 
employment 
service.
10. In relation to employment, the Corporation shall have the
following functions:
( a ) in general to provide and maintain an employment
service to assist persons to find suitable employment
and to assist employers to find suitable employees; and 
  8      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
( b ) in particular -
(i) to register persons seeking employment in the
Register, taking note of their qualifications,
experience, skills, aptitudes, desires and such
other details as may be deemed necessary or
expedient;
(ii) to interview such persons and evaluate, if
necessary, their physical and vocational
capacity;
(iii) to assist persons seeking employment by
guidance and advice on the choice of
employment, and the training and retraining
which may be necessary;
(iv) to obtain from employers information on
vacancies and on requirements to be met by the
employees they require;
(v) to refer to available employment persons with
suitable skills, aptitudes and physical capacity; 
(vi) to collect and analyse information about the
situation of the labour market and probable
changes.
Register of persons 
seeking 
employment.
11. (1) The Corporation shall maintain a Register of persons
seeking employment.
(2) The Register shall consist of three separate parts: Part One,
for the registration of persons who are unemployed; Part Two, for
the registration of persons who, without a good and sufficient
cause, terminate employment or reject an opportunity of
employment or training; and Part Three for persons in gainful
occupation who are seeking alternative employment and such other
category of persons and purposes as may be prescribed after
consultation with the Authority.
(3) For the purpose of determining the length of registration in
one part of the Register, no account shall be taken of the period of
registration in any other part.
(4) Any person who qualifies to be registered may seek to be
registered under the appropriate part of the Register.
Registration for 
employment.
12. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to any
regulation made thereunder, the registration of persons seeking
employment shall be made in such manner and shall be subject to
such formalities and conditions as the Corporation may deem fit.
(2) At the time of first registration for employment and at any
time during the period of validity of registration, the Corporation
may require the person seeking employment to furnish information
or produce documents in his possession or control relating to his
date of birth, previous employment, dependants, experience,
qualifications and other matters relevant to his registration.
(3) If any person fails to provide any information requested
from him under subarticle (2), such person shall forfeit his right to
registration under this article or to referral for employment under
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  9
article 13, and shall be notified accordingly in writing.
(4) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Corporation
under this article may, within fifteen days from the notification of
such decision, appeal to the Authority.
Referral of persons 
for employment.
13. (1) Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Act,
and subject to any regulations made thereunder, in selecting
persons for referral to employers, the Corporation shall be guided
by the following principles, namely:
( a ) where employees with no special skill, knowledge or
experience are required, regard shall be had to -
(i) the employer’s requirements as to age, former
employment and other factors relevant to the
type of employment offered;
(ii) the length of registration for employment;
( b ) where employees with special skill, knowledge,
experience or qualifications are required, regard shall
be had to - 
(i) the persons who best satisfy the requirements of
the employer;
(ii) as between persons who are equally considered
to be the best available, length of registration for
employment:
Provided that, in referring any person for employment, the
Corporation shall give preference to persons registered in Part One
over those registered in Part Two and Three of the Register.
(2) When a person who is registered for employment refuses,
without a good and sufficient cause, to avail himself of any suitable
opportunity for employment or training offered to him by the
Corporation, he shall lose his priority for referral for employment
and shall be notified accordingly in writing.
(3) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Corporation
under this article may, within fifteen days from the notification of
such decision, appeal to the Authority.
Notification and 
filling of 
vacancies.
14. (1) In making a request to the Corporation for the referral
of employees, an employer shall specify the skill, experience and
other qualifications, if any, of the employees he requires, the
conditions of employment he offers and the number of persons to
be referred to him for possible employment, so however that the
employer shall have no right to indicate individual persons when
making his request to the Corporation.
(2) In referring persons for employment, the Corporation shall
seek to satisfy the needs of the employer as expeditiously as
possible. The employer shall be entitled to reject any person
submitted by the Corporation.
  10      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
Engagement of 
employees by 
Government and 
Government 
owned or 
controlled bodies 
and companies. 
15. (1) All employees required by the Government of Malta
from outside its service or by any body corporate or company
referred to in article 110(6) of the Constitution whether these are,
in each case, employed on a contract for a specified time or for an
indefinite period, shall, save as provided in the Constitution and in
subarticles (2) and (3) of this article, be recruited through the
employment service provided by the Corporation.
(2) Where the recruitment of employees by the Government or
any other employer to which subarticle (1) refers is in connection
with the employment of - 
(i) persons required to fill posts, on the basis of a
contract for a definite time requiring a special
trust or posts for which academic or professional
qualifications are necessary; or
(ii) persons engaged from outside Malta,
the Corporation may cause or authorise recruitment, whether
through referral by it or otherwise, under such conditions or in such
manner as the Corporation may deem appropriate.
(3) Under such circumstances, and in respect of such
vacancies, as may be prescribed, the Corporation shall refer for
employment with any employer as is referred to in subarticle (1), in
preference to any other person, persons who, within the three
months immediately preceding such referral, have been discharged
as redundant from such employment as may be prescribed.
(4) If upon a request for employees made to the Corporation by
a Government department or any other employer as is referred to in
subarticle (1), the Corporation is unable to submit suitable
applicants, the department or other employer may recruit the
employees required in virtue of such other arrangements as the
Corporation may authorise in any case or class of cases.
(5) A Government department or other employer as is referred
to in subarticle (1), rejecting an applicant submitted by the
Corporation shall specify in writing the reasons for rejection.
Where in any case the Corporation, after due investigation, is
satisfied that the department or employer has rejected an applicant
without just cause, it may order the department or employer
concerned to give employment to the applicant concerned in the
occupation for which he was originally submitted by the
Corporation.
(6) Any person who - 
( a ) contravenes any of the foregoing provisions of this
article; or
( b ) shows favour to, or uses discrimination against, any
person for employment with any employer referred to
in subarticle (1) on the grounds of race, colour, sex,
creed or on the grounds of his party or other political
beliefs or associations,
shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  11
Functions of the 
Corporation in 
relation to training.
16. (1) In relation to training, the Corporation shall have the
following functions:
( a ) to provide training courses or other schemes for the
purpose of assisting persons desiring to fit themselves
for gainful occupation, or desiring to improve or
update the quality of their knowledge and skills for the
same purpose;
( b ) to obtain information from employers regarding the
number, educational level, skills and aptitudes of
persons they may require for employment both in the
short term and in the long term;
( c ) to enter into arrangements with the said employers, or
any other person, for the provision of training courses
or other schemes contemplated by this article.
(2) The reference in this article to the provision of training
courses or other schemes shall be construed as including a
reference to the making of payments to persons who attend any
such course or scheme, locally or abroad in respect of their
travelling expenses, the provision of residential accommodation
and to the provision of any other facility or service incidental
thereto.
Powers of the 
Corporation in 
relation to training.
17. (1) For the purpose of encouraging adequate training
through courses or other schemes contemplated by article 16, the
Corporation may - 
( a ) provide or secure the provision of such courses and
other schemes as it may consider adequate, having
regard to any courses or schemes otherwise available;
( b ) approve such courses and schemes provided by other
persons;
( c ) from time to time consider such employments as
appear to require consideration and publish
recommendations with regard to the nature and length
of the training for any such employment, the further
education to be required with the training, the persons
by and to whom the training ought to be given, the
standards to be attained as a result of the training and
the methods of ascertaining whether those standards
have been attained;
( d ) make arrangements for the application of selection
tests and of tests or other methods for ascertaining the
attainment of any standards recommended by it and
may award certificates of the attainment of those
standards;
( e ) assist any person in finding facilities for being trained
where it cannot provide such training;
( f ) carry on or assist other persons in carrying on research
into any matter relating to training.
(2) The Corporation may enter into contracts of service or of
apprenticeship with any person who intends to attend courses or
  12      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
avail himself of any other scheme it has provided.
(3) The Corporation may - 
( a ) at the request of the Authority provide such other
advice, and such other courses and schemes for
training, as are mentioned in the request;
( b ) at the request of any employer provide advice about
training connected with his activities;
( c ) enter into agreements with employers relative to
payments by them to the Corporation in respect of the
exercise by the Corporation of any of its functions.
(4) The Corporation may -
( a ) make grants or loans to persons providing courses or
other schemes approved by the Corporation;
( b ) pay fees to persons providing further education in
respect of persons who receive it in association with
their training in courses or other schemes provided or
approved by the Corporation;
( c ) make payments to persons in connection with
arrangements under which they or their employees
make use of courses or other schemes provided or
approved by the Corporation.
PART IV
A D M I N I S T R A T I V E   A N D  F I N A N C I A L  P R O V I S I O N S   R E L A T I N G   T O   T H E  
C O R P O R A T I O N  
Personnel of the 
Corporation.
18. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of Malta
and of any other enactment applicable thereto, including this Act,
the Corporation, acting with the concurrence of the Minister, may
appoint such officials and other employees on such terms and
conditions of employment as the Corporation may, from time to
time, determine.
(2) Public officers seconded for duty with the Corporation shall
be under the administrative authority and control of the
Corporation, but shall for all other intents and purposes remain and
be considered and treated as public officers.
Capital and 
revenue of the 
Corporation.
19. (1) The Corporation shall be endowed with an initial
capital of two hundred and fifty thousand liri which shall be paid
by the Government out of the Consolidated Fund, without further
appropriation other than this Act, by warrant under the hand of the
Minister responsible for finance authorising the Accountant
General to make the payment.
(2) Thereafter the Corporation shall be paid out of the
Consolidated Fund such sums as the House may approve in
accordance with the following articles:
Provided that in relation to its function, other than those in
connection with its function as an employment service for the
purposes of article 110 of the Constitution, nothing in this Act shall
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  13
prevent the Corporation from entering into arrangements for
securing part of its funds from sources other than the public
revenue.
(3) The Corporation shall cause to be prepared in every
financial year, and shall not later than six weeks before the end of
each financial year adopt, estimates of the income and expenditure
of the Corporation for the next following financial year.
(4) The estimates shall be made in such form and shall contain
such information and such comparisons with previous estimates as
the Minister may direct.
(5) The Corporation shall within the same time mentioned in
subarticle (3), make a report of its activities during that year
containing such information relating to the functions and activities
of the Corporation as the Minister may from time to time require.
(6) A copy of the estimates of the Corporation, together with a
copy of the report, shall, upon their adoption by the Board, be sent
forthwith to the Minister.
(7) The Minister shall, at the earliest opportunity and not later
than four weeks after he has received a copy of the estimates and of
the report of the Corporation, or, if at any time the House is not in
session, within four weeks from the beginning of the next following
session, cause such estimates and such report to be laid before the
House together with a motion that the House approve the said
estimates. Not less than one sitting shall be allotted for the debate
in the House on such motion; and both the motion and the approval
of the estimates by the House may be with or without amendment
to the estimates.
(8) No expenditure shall be incurred by the Corporation that
has not been approved by the House:
Provided that -
( a ) until the expiration of six months from the beginning
of a financial year or until the approval of the
estimates for that year, the Corporation may make or
incur expenditure for carrying out its functions under
this Act not exceeding in the aggregate one half of the
amount approved for the preceding financial year;
( b ) expenditure approved in respect of a head or sub-head
of the estimates may, with the approval of the Minister,
be incurred in respect of another head or sub-head of
the estimates;
( c ) if in respect of any financial year it is found that the
amount approved by the House is not sufficient, or if a
need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose not
provided for in the estimates, the Corporation may
adopt supplementary estimates for approval by the
House and, pending such approval, but subject to its
being given, the Corporation may in special
circumstances and with the approval of the Minister,
incur the relative expenditure; and the provisions of
  14      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
this Act applicable to the estimates shall, as near as
practicable, apply to the supplementary estimates:
Provided further that in respect of the first financial year of
the Corporation, this article shall apply as if it required the
Corporation to adopt estimates for that year not later than twelve
weeks from the coming into force of this article and as if the total
expenditure that may be made or incurred by the Corporation until
the approval of the estimates for that year by the House may not
exceed one half of the amount shown in such estimates.
(9) All estimates and supplementary estimates approved by the
House shall, as soon as practicable, be published in the Gazette.
Accounts and 
audit.
Amended by:
XVI.1997.8.
20. (1) The Corporation shall cause to be kept proper books of
accounts and other records in respect of its operations and shall
cause to be prepared a statement of accounts in respect of each
financial year.
(2) The accounts of the Corporation shall be audited by an
auditor or auditors to be appointed by it and approved by the
Minister:
Provided that the Minister responsible for finance may
require the books and other records of the Corporation to be audited
or examined by the Auditor General who shall for this purpose have
power to carry out such physical checking and other verifications,
and may require such information, as he may deem necessary.
(3) After the end of each financial year, at the same time as a
copy of the estimates of the Corporation is forwarded to the
Minister under article 19, the Corporation shall cause a copy of the
statement of accounts duly audited to be transmitted to the Minister
together with a copy of any report made by the auditor or auditors
on that statement or on the accounts of the Corporation.
(4) The Minister shall cause a copy of every such statement and
report to be laid before the House of Representatives together with
the motion laid before the House under article 19.
Power to borrow 
capital.
21. (1) The Corporation may, with the approval in writing of
the Minister given after consultation with the Minister responsible
for finance, borrow or raise money in such manner, from such
person, body or authority, under such terms and conditions and
against such security as it may deem appropriate, for any one or
more of the following purposes:
( a ) the carrying out of functions of the Corporation under
this Act;
( b ) any other expenditure properly chargeable to capital
account.
(2) The Corporation may also from time to time borrow, by
way of overdraft or otherwise, for periods not exceeding twelve
months, such sums as it may require for carrying out its functions
under this Act:
Provided that for any amount in excess of two hundred
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  15
thousand liri, there shall be required the approval of the Minister in
writing. 
(3) Whenever it may be necessary for the Corporation to
borrow by way of advances from the Government any sums
required by it to carry out any of its functions under this Act, the
Minister responsible for finance may, after consultation with the
Minister, by warrant under his hand and without further
appropriation other than this Act, authorise the Accountant General
to make advances to the Corporation either out of the proceeds of
any loan contracted or raised for the purpose or out of the
Consolidated Fund; and such advances shall be made on such terms
and conditions as the Minister responsible for finance may direct.
(4) The Minister responsible for finance may, for any
requirements of the Corporation of a capital nature, contract or
raise money, or incur liabilities, for such periods and on such terms
and conditions as he may deem appropriate; and any sums due in
respect of or in connection with any such loan or liability shall be a
charge on the Consolidated Fund.
(5) Notice of any loans, liabilities or advances made or
incurred under the foregoing provisions of this article shall be
given by the Minister to the House of Representatives as soon as
practicable.
Exemption from 
certain taxes and 
duties. 
Substituted by:
XV.1995.9.
22. The Corporation shall be exempt from any liability for the
payment of income tax and duty on documents under any law for
the time being in force.
PART V 
E M P L O Y M E N T  A G E N C I E S
Employment 
agencies and 
businesses to be 
licensed.
23. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of Part III of this
Act, no person shall carry on an employment agency or an
employment business unless he is the holder of a current licence
granted by the Director under this article authorising him to carry
on such an agency or business in premises specified in the licence. 
(2) An applicant for a licence under this article shall, not less
than twenty-one days before making his application - 
(i) display notice of the application in a place where
it can conveniently be read by the public on or
near the premises at which the employment
agency or employment business is or is to be
carried on and take such steps as he reasonably
can to keep that notice so displayed for a period
of twenty-one days; and
(ii) advertise notice of the application in two daily
newspapers.
(3) A notice under subarticle (2) - 
(i) shall state the name and address of the applicant
and where the applicant is a company or other
body of persons the name and address of all the
directors or like officers of the company or body
  16      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
of persons; and
(ii) shall state the situation of the premises at which
the employment agency or employment business
is or is to be carried on and the class of business
carried on or to be carried on at those premises.
(4) No application for a licence under this article shall be
entertained by the Director unless it is accompanied by a
certificate, signed by or on behalf of the applicant, stating that he
has complied with the provisions of subarticle (2) and a copy of the
newspaper containing notice of the application.
(5) An application for a licence in respect of an employment
agency or an employment business may be refused by the Director
on any of the following grounds, that is to say:
( a ) that the applicant is an individual under the age of
twenty-five;
( b ) that the applicant is a person who on account of
misconduct or for any other sufficient reason is
unsuitable to hold a licence in respect of an agency or
business of the class in question;
( c ) that any person (other than the applicant) who is or is
to be concerned with the carrying on of the
employment agency or employment business is a
person who on account of misconduct or for any other
sufficient reason is unsuitable to be associated with an
agency or business of the class in question;
( d ) that the premises at which the employment agency or
employment business is or is to be carried on are
unsuitable in respect of an agency or business of the
class in question;
( e ) that the employment agency or employment business
has been or is being improperly conducted.
(6) No employment agency or employment business may levy
any charge on any applicant for employment in consideration of
such employment or in consideration of registration therefor.
(7) A licence may be revoked by the Director on any of the
grounds specified in subarticle (5)( a )   to   ( e ) or for a breach of the
provisions of subarticle (6).
(8) Unless revoked, a licence shall continue in force for one
year (or such longer period, not exceeding five years, as the
Director may specify in any particular case) beginning with the
date specified therein for its commencement:
Provided that where the holder of a licence has duly applied
before its expiry for a further licence, the previous licence shall not
expire until the commencement of the further licence or, if the
application is refused, until the refusal is notified to him by the
Director.
(9) Where the holder of a licence dies, the licence shall be
deemed to have been transferred on his death, if he was the sole
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  17
holder, to his heirs, and if he was a joint holder, to his heirs and the
surviving holder or holders, so however that no such transfer shall
be made unless the transferee, or transferees if more than one, are
persons qualified to hold a licence under this article.
(10) It shall be the duty of the holder of a licence under this
article, within one month of any change in the particulars
accompanying the application for that licence under subarticle (1),
to give to the Director notice in writing of the change:
Provided that nothing in this subarticle shall be taken as
authorising the holder of a licence to carry on any business
otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the licence.
(11) Every licence granted under this article shall be endorsed
with notice of the effect of subarticle (10).
(12) The holder of a licence under this article in respect of any
employment agency or employment business shall keep displayed
on the premises to which the licence relates in such a position that
it can be readily seen by persons resorting to those premises - 
( a ) the licence; and
( b ) a copy of any regulations under this Act which apply
to the employment agency or employment business.
(13) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of
subarticles (1), (6) and (10) shall be guilty of an offence against
this Act.
Cap. 171. 
Cap. 234.
(14) This article shall not apply to the supply of port workers in
accordance with the Port Workers Ordinance, and shall be without
prejudice to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act.
Representations on 
refusal or 
revocation of a 
licence.
24. (1) Where the Director intends to refuse to grant or
transfer a licence, or to revoke the same under article 23, he shall
notify the applicant for, or the holder of, the licence or the person
to whom it is requested that the licence be transferred, of his
intention and the reasons therefor.
(2) A person who receives a notification of the intention of the
Director as is mentioned in subarticle (1) may make written
representations thereon to the Director within thirty days of the
receipt of such notification.
(3) If the Director receives such representations within the time
specified in subarticle (2), he shall consider them and - 
( a ) if he decides not to proceed with his intentions and
accordingly decides to grant or not to revoke or
transfer the licence, he shall notify the applicant or
holder of his decision;
( b ) in any other case, the Director shall notify the
applicant or holder accordingly, and the latter may,
within fifteen days from such notification, appeal to
the Authority.
  18      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
Conduct of 
employment 
agencies and 
businesses.
25. The Minister may make regulations to secure the proper
conduct of employment agencies and businesses and to protect the
interests of persons availing themselves of the services of such
agencies whether as persons seeking employment or employers,
and such regulations may without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing in particular make provision - 
( a ) requiring persons running such agencies and
businesses to keep records as may be prescribed;
( b ) prescribing the qualifications required for persons
running such agencies and businesses;
( c ) regulating advertising by persons running such
agencies and businesses;
( d ) regulating the provision of services by persons running
such agencies and businesses in respect of persons
who seek employment outside Malta.
PART VI 
M A N P O W E R  R E C O R D S
Work Books and 
other documents.
26. (1) The Minister may make regulations under this article
prescribing the registration and recording of gainfully occupied
persons or persons seeking employment whether by means of work
books, identity cards, by means of electronic-related data recording
and recovery systems or other documents. Such regulations may in
particular provide:
( a ) for the use of work or identity cards or other
documents for all or any one or more classes of such
persons;
( b ) the method of issue and control of such documents; 
( c ) for the fees to be paid for the issue and replacement
thereof;
( d ) for the conditions under which such documents may be
issued;
( e ) who the persons responsible for the custody of such
documents may be; and
( f ) the particulars to be shown or entered in such
documents or records.
(2) Any such regulations may also provide for such
documentation as may be prescribed for purposes of registrations
for employment or employment training.
(3) The Minister may also make regulations providing for the
restriction of the disclosure of any particulars furnished in
accordance with regulations under this article, or in accordance
with article 27, for prescribing the conditions under which records
of any such particulars may be kept and for requiring such records
to be destroyed after such period as may be prescribed.
(4) The Minister may delegate any power vested in him by this
article to the Corporation.
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  19
Particulars 
concerning persons 
leaving school.
27. (1) The Corporation may from time to time require any
person in charge of a school to furnish in such manner as may be
requested and within a reasonable time such particulars as the
Corporation may require with respect to pupils leaving school or
who, while attending school, attain a stated age.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred
in subarticle (1), the particulars which may be required shall
include such particulars, relating to age, sex, ability, educational
attainments and other particulars of the persons to whom they relate
as appear to the Corporation to be necessary or expedient to enable
adequate advice to be given on employment prospects and to
prepare plans for their training pursuant to the provisions of this
Act.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with any request made
under this article shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
Information as to 
employment and 
other occupations.
28. (1) The Corporation may, from time to time, request any
employer or any gainfully occupied person to furnish, within a
reasonable time such information as the Corporation may require in
connection with employment and other occupations.
(2) Any such request may be either general or with respect to a
class or classes of employers, or to a particular employer or
employers, or to a class or classes of gainfully occupied persons.
(3) Where any such request is general or with respect to a class
or classes of employers or to a class or classes of gainfully
occupied persons, it shall be made by notice published in the
Gazette.
(4) Any person who fails to comply with any request made
under this article shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
PART VII
A P P R E N T I C E S   A N D  T R A I N E E S
Interpretation for 
the purposes of 
Part VII.
29. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires - 
 "apprentice" means a person over the age of fifteen years who is
bound by a written agreement to serve an employer for a
determined period with a view to acquiring knowledge, including
theory and practice, of a calling in which the employer is
reciprocally bound to instruct that person and "apprenticeship"
shall be construed accordingly;
"calling" means any skill, trade, craft, or other occupation or
section thereof, designated from time to time by a scheme or by the
Minister by notice in the Gazette;
Cap. 452.
"conditions of employment" has the same meaning as assigned to
it in article 2 of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act;
"journeyman" means a person who has served his apprenticeship
and has satisfied a Trade Testing Board as to his proficiency in a
calling;
"parent" in addition to its ordinary meaning includes any person
  20      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
who has the legal care or custody or the care or custody in fact of
another person who has not attained the age of eighteen years;
"prescribed" means prescribed by a scheme or by regulations
under this Part;
"scheme" means a scheme under this Part;
"Trade Testing Board" means a board constituted as in article 40;
"trainee" means a person other than an apprentice, who is not of
compulsory school age and who is receiving training under an
agreement in writing in a calling or part of a calling otherwise than
at a recognised educational establishment, provided that a trainee
may be required to attend a recognised educational establishment
as part of such training and "traineeship" shall be construed
accordingly.
Permit to employ 
apprentices or 
trainees.
30. (1) No person may employ an apprentice or trainee
without a written permit from the Corporation which shall specify
the maximum number of apprentices or trainees that may be
employed:
Provided that no such permit shall be given under this
article for the employment of apprentices or trainees unless a draft
scheme or agreement which includes provisions respecting the
qualifications, training and conditions of employment of an
apprentice or trainee has been previously drawn up by the person
applying therefor and approved by the Minister on the advice of the
Corporation and unless such a person shows to the satisfaction of
the Corporation that his establishment offers reasonable
opportunities for the proper training of the number of apprentices
or trainees proposed to be employed therein.
(2) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of
subarticle (1) shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
Written agreement. 31. (1) An employer on engaging an apprentice or trainee
shall enter into a written agreement with him.
(2) If such apprentice or trainee is a minor he shall not so bind
himself except with the consent of his parent, or if there is no
parent, with the consent of the Director.
(3) A minor who binds himself as an apprentice or trainee as
provided in subarticle (2), shall be bound by the agreement
throughout its currency notwithstanding that he may have in the
meantime attained the age of eighteen years.
Registration of 
agreement.
32. (1) No agreement of apprenticeship in a calling or
traineeship shall be binding unless and until it has been registered
with the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) When registering such agreement, the Corporation shall
ensure that:
( a ) such agreement complies with the provisions of the
apprenticeship or traineeship scheme applicable to the
trade or calling;
( b ) the employer and the apprentice or trainee are fit and
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  21
proper persons to enter into such agreement;
( c ) the apprentice or trainee has produced to the employer
a medical certificate certifying his capability to
undertake training in the calling;
( d ) the apprentice or trainee has the necessary standards of
education prescribed by the scheme.
(3) The Corporation shall keep a Register of Apprentices and a
Register of Trainees and all agreements shall be registered therein.
(4) The date of registration shall not affect the date of
commencement of the agreement, but a refusal to register the
agreement shall cause the agreement to be null and void from the
date of refusal. The date of commencement of an agreement shall
be the date of signing by all the parties or such date as may be
stipulated herein.
(5) Any party aggrieved by a decision of the Corporation under
this article may within fifteen days from the date of notification in
writing of such decision appeal to the Authority.
Transfer of 
agreement.
33. (1) The rights and obligations of any employer under any
agreement of apprenticeship or traineeship may, with the consent of
the Corporation, be transferred to another employer.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (4) no such transfer
shall be complete until it has been registered with the Corporation.
(3) The Corporation may refuse to register any transfer which,
in its opinion, is not in the interest of the apprentice or trainee.
(4) If any person is engaged as an apprentice or trainee by a
partnership, his agreement shall not be terminated by reason of the
death or retirement of any partner, if the business of the partnership
is continued by another person or partnership; and the rights and
obligations of the employer under the agreement shall be deemed to
be transferred to the person or partnership continuing the business.
Termination or 
Rescission of 
agreement.
34. (1) Subject to the provisions of articles 35 and 41, an
agreement of apprenticeship or traineeship may only be rescinded
by the Corporation at the written request of the parties thereto on
proof of good and sufficient cause.
(2) An appeal from a decision of the Corporation under this
article may be made to the Authority within fifteen days from the
notification in writing of the decision.
Probationary 
period.
35. (1) The first three months of an agreement of
apprenticeship or traineeship shall be a period of probation during
which the agreement may be terminated by either party on three
days notice in writing being given, and any agreement to the
contrary, whether expressed or implied, shall be null and void
without however affecting the validity of any other part of the
agreement of which it forms part.
(2) No apprentice or trainee who has completed his
probationary period shall attend to any selective interviews, test or
  22      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
examination and no person may interview, test or examine any such
apprentice or trainee, with a view of alternative employment,
unless such apprentice or trainee has been so authorised by his
employer and the Corporation has given its approval; and any
person acting in contravention of any of the provisions of this
subarticle shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
Records to be kept 
by employers.
36. (1) Every employer upon whom an agreement of
apprenticeship or traineeship is binding, shall at all times keep in
respect of every apprentice or trainee such records as may be
prescribed.
(2) Every person who is or has been an employer referred to
above shall retain any record made in terms of the preceding
subarticle for a period of three years subsequent to the date of the
record, and shall on demand by the Corporation made at any time
during the said period of three years produce the said records for
inspection.
(3) Any person acting in contravention of any of the foregoing
provisions of this article, or failing to comply with any demand
made thereunder, shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
Making of 
schemes.
37. (1) The Minister may, after consulting the Corporation, by
regulations under this Part make a scheme or schemes for
regulating the conditions of employment and training of
apprentices and trainees. Every such scheme may in particular
prescribe:
( a ) the qualifications, including age and educational
standard, required for apprentices or for trainees;
( b ) the period of apprenticeship or traineeship, the
variations in such period which may be allowed, and
the circumstances under which those variations may be
allowed;
( c ) the rates according to which apprentices and trainees
shall be remunerated, the circumstances under which
those rates may be reduced or shall be increased, and
the extent of the reduction or increase:
Provided that no rate based upon the quantity of
work done shall be prescribed except in the last year of
apprenticeship or traineeship;
( d ) the classes of instruction which apprentices or trainees
shall attend and the number of hours per week,
whether within or outside their ordinary working
hours, and the period during which they shall attend
such classes;
( e ) the practical training which employers shall provide
for apprentices and trainees in their employ;
( f ) the proficiency tests or examinations which
apprentices or trainees shall undergo from time to
time;
( g ) the maximum number of ordinary working hours
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  23
which apprentices or trainees may be required or
permitted to work during any week or on any day, and
the days on which, the hours on any day before or after
which and the intervals during which no apprentice or
trainee may be required or permitted to work;
( h ) the maximum period of overtime which apprentices or
trainees may be required or permitted to work during
any specified period, and the rates according to which
they shall be remunerated in respect of overtime;
( i ) the number of paid holidays to be allowed to
apprentices or trainees during any year of
apprenticeship or traineeship and the rates according
to which they shall be remunerated in respect of such
holidays;
( j ) the circumstances under which an employer shall pay
additional remuneration to any apprentice or trainee in
his employment and the amount of the additional
remuneration or the manner in which it shall be
calculated;
( k ) the remuneration and the other conditions of
apprenticeship or traineeship in respect of any period
during which an apprentice or trainee is unable by
reason of any condition of apprenticeship or
traineeship or other specified circumstance to render
service to his employer during ordinary working
hours.
(2) A scheme may provide for the making of orders for giving
effect to the purpose of the scheme.
(3) A scheme may be amended or revoked by a subsequent
scheme or by an order made by the Minister, after consultation with
the Corporation.
(4) Different conditions of apprenticeship or traineeship may
be prescribed under subarticle (1) in respect of different classes of
employers or apprentices or trainees, and different designated
callings, and in prescribing such different conditions the Minister
may apply any method of differentiation he may deem advisable.
(5) The Minister may, in any scheme published under
subarticle (1) provide that the conditions of apprenticeship or
traineeship therein prescribed or such of the said conditions as may
be specified therein shall, as from a date so specified, apply in
respect of apprentices or trainees who have entered into an
agreement of apprenticeship or traineeship upon or after the date on
which the calling concerned was designated and before the date
upon which the said conditions come into operation, and no such
agreement shall cease to be binding upon the parties thereto by
reason of the fact that as a result of the scheme, the conditions of
apprenticeship or traineeship applicable in respect of those
apprentices or trainees have changed.
  24      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
Power of 
Corporation to 
ascertain adequate 
training.
38. (1) The Corporation shall have power to make such
inspection and enquiry as may be necessary for the purpose of
ascertaining that apprentices and trainees are receiving adequate
training.
(2) If in the opinion of the Corporation any apprentice or
trainee is not receiving adequate training, the Corporation may
order the employer of the apprentice or trainee to take such action,
specified in the order, as the Corporation deems necessary to ensure
that the apprentice or trainee will receive adequate training, and
may withdraw or vary any such order.
(3) In any such order the Corporation may, subject to the
provisions of any scheme applicable in the case, specify the classes
of work on which the apprentice or trainee is to be trained, the
periods during which, the intervals at which or the dates between
which he shall be so trained, the conditions relating to supervision,
the method or place of work, and any other matters or conditions
relating to the training of the apprentice or trainee.
Loan of services of 
apprentices or 
trainees.
39. (1) The Corporation may, on an application from the
employer, authorise in writing, for such period and subject to such
conditions as it may determine, the loan of the services of an
apprentice or trainee to another employer, if in its opinion it is in
the interest of the apprentice or trainee to do so.
(2) No loan of the services of an apprentice or trainee to
another employer authorized under subarticle (1) shall release the
person who is the employer in terms of the agreement of
apprenticeship or traineeship from any obligation under the
agreement.
Trade Testing 
Boards and 
Certification.
40. (1) The Minister may, in consultation with the
Corporation, appoint such Trade Testing Boards as he may deem
necessary for the purpose of conducting the examination of
apprentices or trainees designed to ascertain their proficiency or
competence in a calling.
(2) The Corporation shall issue to each apprentice or trainee
who has completed his term of apprenticeship or traineeship a
journeyman’s certificate or a certificate of competence as the case
may be, if the apprentice or trainee has satisfied a Trade Testing
Board that he has attained the required standard of proficiency or
competence:
Provided that the Corporation may with the concurrence of
the Minister issue such certificates without reference to a Trade
Testing Board if it is satisfied that suitable arrangements exist
within any industry or undertaking, whether belonging to
Government or not, for the assessment of apprentices or trainees as
regards attainment of the required standard of proficiency or
competence in the particular calling.
Regulations with 
respect to 
standards, 
certification, etc.
41. The Minister responsible for education may, in
consultation with the Corporation, make regulations for the setting
up of standards of proficiency or competence in the various callings
and the certification of persons who shall have obtained such
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  25
standards.
Settlement of 
differences.
42. (1) If any difference arises between an employer and an
apprentice or trainee, or if it appears to the Corporation that either
the employer or the apprentice or trainee is unable to fulfil any of
the conditions of the agreement of apprenticeship or traineeship, or
if either fails to observe the convenants thereof or if either is
convicted of a serious criminal offence, the Corporation shall, at
the request of either party or both, or of its own motion, consider
all the circumstances of the case and it shall have power to
determine all matters relative thereto including the cancellation of
the agreement or the transfer of the apprentice or trainee. An appeal
from any such decision of the Corporation may be made within
fifteen days from the notification of such decision to the Authority
whose decision shall be final.
(2) During the period of any dispute between an employer and
an apprentice or trainee, the employer shall be entitled as from the
date of reporting the circumstances to the Corporation, to suspend
the apprentice or trainee from work without pay, saving the right of
the apprentice or trainee to full reinstatement with back-pay if the
final decision is in his favour.
Acceptance of 
premiums.
43. (1) No person shall, directly or indirectly, require or
permit any person, other than the Government or the Corporation,
to pay or give any consideration in order to employ an apprentice or
trainee in a calling or receive any such consideration from any
person other than the Government or the Corporation; and any
person acting in contravention of the foregoing provisions of this
subarticle shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
(2) Any person who has, in contravention of the provisions of
subarticle (1), paid or given any such consideration, may recover
the same in a court of law and any court, before which any person
is proved to have committed a contravention of the said subarticle,
may on proof of the amount improperly received, order such
person, to refund the same and any such order shall be of the same
force and effect and be executable in the same manner as if it had
been given in a civil action duly instituted in that court between
such person and the person who paid or gave the consideration:
Provided that any such claim for the refund of the money
improperly received shall be barred by the lapse of two years from
the termination of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Regulations with 
respect to 
apprentices or 
trainees.
44. (1) The Minister may, in consultation with the
Corporation, make regulations prescribing -
( a ) the certificates, in respect of birth and educational
standard, which may be demanded and medical
examination which may be required in connection with
the registration of an agreement of apprenticeship or
traineeship, the forms on which such an agreement and
medical certification of apprentices and trainees is to
be made;
( b ) the nature of returns which employers may from time
  26      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
to time be required to furnish and the period within
which those returns shall be so furnished;
( c ) the circumstances and manner in which any
amendment may be made in an agreement of
apprenticeship or traineeship;
( d ) all matters which by this Part are required or permitted
to be prescribed;
( e ) generally all matters which he considers necessary or
expedient to prescribe in order that the purposes of this
Part may be achieved.
(2) Different regulations may be made under subarticle (1) in
respect of different classes of employers or apprentices or trainees
and of different callings, and in making such regulations the
Minister may apply any method of differentiation he may deem
advisable.
Civil rights of 
apprentice or 
trainee and 
employer.
45. Nothing contained in this Act shall affect - 
( a ) any right which an apprentice or trainee may have to
institute civil proceedings against his employer in
respect of any contravention of or failure to comply
with any provision of an agreement of apprenticeship
or traineeship or any condition thereof;
( b ) any right which an employer may have to institute
civil proceedings against an apprentice or trainee in
respect of any contravention of or failure to comply
with the provisions of the agreement of apprenticeship
or traineeship or any condition thereof.
PART VIII 
E N F O R C E M E N T , O F F E N C E S   A N D  P E N A L T I E S
Enforcement. 46. (1) The Minister may designate in writing specified
officers of the department of labour or of the Corporation to be
inspectors for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Inspectors under this Act shall have such functions and
duties as may be prescribed.
(3) Inspectors designated as aforesaid shall be empowered -
( a ) to enter freely and without previous notice at all
reasonable times any premises or place liable to
inspection under this Act;
( b ) to carry out in any such premises or place any
examination, test or inquiry which they may consider
necessary in order to satisfy themselves that the
provisions of this Act or of any regulations or orders
thereunder as well as any recognised conditions of
employment are being observed, and in particular - 
(i) to interrogate, alone or in the presence of
witnesses, the employer or the employees or the
apprentices or trainees on any of the said
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  27
matters;
(ii) to require the production of any books, registers
or other documents the keeping of which is
prescribed by this Act or by any order issued
under this Act and to copy such documents or
make extracts therefrom.
(4) On the occasion of an inspection visit, an inspector shall
notify the employer or his representative of his presence, unless he
considers that such a notification may be prejudicial to the
performance of his duties.
(5) The premises and places liable to inspection under this Act
are any premises or places in respect of which any provisions of
this Act or of any regulation or order thereunder or any recognised
conditions of employment apply or any premises or places in
respect of which an inspector has reasonable cause to believe that
this Act or any regulations or orders thereunder or any recognised
conditions of employment apply.
Improper 
influence. 
47. (1) No person shall improperly influence or attempt to
influence directly or indirectly on behalf of himself or on behalf of
any other person, the Authority, the Corporation or their members
or directors, or persons employed by them, in the exercise of their
functions under this Act.
(2) Any person who contravenes any of the foregoing
provisions of this article shall be guilty of an offence against this
Act.
False information, 
etc.
48. Any person who, in connection with any matter under this
Act - 
( a ) furnishes any information which he knows to be false
in a material particular, or recklessly furnishes any
information which is false in a material particular; or
( b ) with intent to deceive produces, furnishes, sends or
otherwise makes use of any document which is false in
a material particular; or
( c ) wilfully refuses or without lawful excuse (the proof
whereof shall lie on him) withholds any material
information,
shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall on
conviction be liable, to a fine ( multa ) of not less than fifty liri but
not exceeding five hundred liri, or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding one year, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Offences in respect 
of apprenticeship 
or traineeship.
49. (1) Any person who - 
( a ) contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of
an agreement of apprenticeship or traineeship or any
provision of a scheme which is binding upon him; or
( b ) contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of
article 30, article 35(2), article 36, article 43(1); or
( c ) knowingly or recklessly makes any incorrect statement
  28      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
or entry in any record or return kept or furnished under
this Part or any regulations made thereunder; or
( d ) refuses or fails to answer to the best of his knowledge
any question which the Director or his representative,
an officer of the Corporation or an inspector has put to
him in the exercise of his functions under this Part; or
( e ) refuses or fails to comply with any requirements duly
provided for under this Act; or
( f ) hinders the Corporation or the Director or their
representatives or an inspector in the performance of
their functions under this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
(2) Where any contravention against Part VII of this Act or
any regulations made thereunder is committed by a person who is
under the authority, control or charge of another person, liability
therefor shall be contracted not only by the person committing the
contravention but also by such other person if the contravention
could have been prevented by the exercise of diligence on the part
of such other person.
Offences against 
articles 15 and 47.
50. Any person guilty of an offence against this Act under
article 15 or article 47 thereof shall be liable, on conviction, to a
fine ( multa ) of not less than five hundred liri but not exceeding five
thousand liri.
General penalty. 51. (1) Any person guilty of an offence against this Act or
who fails to comply with any of the provisions of any regulations or
orders made thereunder, shall, unless a particular penalty is
provided therefor in this Act or in any such regulation or order, be
liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of not less than twenty liri
and not more than four hundred liri.
(2) No proceedings shall be taken against any person for any
offence against this Act other than an offence against articles 15
and 47 thereof, where such person, having received an intimation
by the Director for the payment of a penalty of fifteen liri for
having contravened the provisions aforesaid of this Act or of any
regulations or orders made thereunder, complies with such
provisions and pays such penalty to the Director in either case
within fifteen days from the receipt by him of such intimation.
Saving for 
Criminal Code. 
Cap. 9.
52. The punishments provided in this Act shall apply unless
the fact constitutes a more serious offence under the Criminal Code
or any other law, in which case such Code or other law shall apply.
Prescription. 53. Notwithstanding any other law, proceedings for an offence
under this Act may be commenced at any time within six years
from the commission of the offence.
PART IX
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
Regulations.  54. (1) The Minister may make regulations generally for
giving effect to the provisions of this Act, and the enforcement
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ġ CAP. 343.  29
thereof, and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of
the foregoing - 
( a ) for providing for any matter which is required or
authorised by this Act to be prescribed;
( b ) for prescribing the powers and procedures of the
Authority in the hearing and disposal of appeals under
this Act.
(2) The powers of the Minister to make regulations under any
of the provisions of this Act shall include the power to establish the
punishments in respect of any violation or contravention thereof, or
failure to comply therewith:
Provided that such punishments shall not exceed a fine ( multa ) of
one thousand liri or imprisonment exceeding three months.
Conflict of interest.
the Corporation who is in any way directly or indirectly interested
in any contract made or proposed to be made by the Corporation or
in any activity or service to be provided for or by the Corporation,
shall as soon as possible after the relevant circumstances shall have
come to his knowledge, disclose the nature of his interest to the
Board of the Corporation.
(2) Any disclosure made under subarticle (1) by a director shall
be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which it is made, and
the director - 
( a ) shall, after the disclosure, withdraw from the meeting
while that matter is being discussed or decided by the
Board; and
( b ) shall be disregarded for the purpose of constituting a
quorum of the Board for any such discussion or
decision.
(3) The Corporation shall without delay inform the Minister of
any disclosure made under this article.
Saving.
Cap. 141.
Cap. 134.
56. (1) Until such time as they are revoked, repealed or
replaced, any scheme made, permit or exemption granted, any
agreement entered into and any regulation or order made, under or
in virtue of the Employment Service Act *  and the Industrial
Training Act *  shall continue in force and shall be deemed to have
been made under and in virtue of this Act.
(2) The provision of the Employment Service Act *  relating to
the Auxiliary Workers and Training Scheme, and to workers
engaged therein, shall continue to apply until such time as the
Minister may by order determine.
(3) Any person registered for employment under the
Employment Service Act *  shall continue to enjoy the same priority
for referral for employment under this Act, to which he was entitled
immediately before the coming into force of this Act.
*Repealed by this Act; but  see  Legal Notices Nos. 124 and 175 of 1990, and 126 of
1995.
  30      CAP. 343. ħ          EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES
SCHEDULE
ġARTICLE 3ħ
FORM OF OATH TO BE TAKEN BY MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY
I,................................................................ having been appointed to be Member
of the National Employment Authority constituted under the Employment and
Training Services Act, do hereby swear that I will faithfully, fully, impartially and to
the best of my ability discharge the trust and perform the duties devolving upon me
by virtue of the said appointment.
So help me God.
............................
