Malta’s New Skill Pass System: A Roadblock or a Solution for the Catering and Hospitality Industry?

Malta’s New Skill Pass System: A Roadblock or a Solution for the Catering and Hospitality Industry?

By Nazmul Istiak, LL.B, LL.M , BA( Hon’s) , UK – Restaurant Operator Malta

Malta, a stunning Mediterranean island known for its sun-kissed shores, vibrant culture, and rich history, attracts millions of tourists each year. Tourism remains a cornerstone of the Maltese economy, fueling demand for services in hospitality and catering — from boutique restaurants to high-end hotels.

Yet, the island is currently facing a critical shortage of skilled hospitality workers. To bridge this gap, Maltese employers increasingly rely on Third Country Nationals (TCNs) — non-EU nationals — who are willing to take up key roles in kitchens and restaurants. In response, the government introduced a new policy in 2024: the Skill Pass system.

Marketed as a standardisation tool to certify skills and ensure service quality, the Skill Pass is now mandatory for all non-EU catering workers. But instead of easing recruitment challenges, it has sparked widespread confusion, criticism, and frustration.

❓ What Is the Skill Pass?

The Skill Pass is a four-module, AI-delivered online course created by the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS). Its goal is to evaluate workers’ readiness for Malta’s catering sector. Applicants are expected to complete and pass the course — at a cost of approximately €475 — before proceeding with employment and visa processes.

While the objective may seem reasonable, industry experts argue that the system is disconnected from the reality of working in hospitality.

🧤 Kinaesthetic Skills: Missing from the Curriculum

In catering, kinaesthetic skills — the physical ability to perform tasks like slicing, stirring, plating, or operating kitchen equipment — are essential. Yet, these practical elements are noticeably absent from the Skill Pass, which heavily emphasizes theory and abstract knowledge.

Many chefs and restaurant owners feel the system overlooks the hands-on nature of their work. Instead of measuring what workers can do, it tests what they can remember — and sometimes, that knowledge is completely unrelated.

⚠️ A Deep Dive into the Criticism

1. ❌ Irrelevant Exam Content

Workers are reporting strange and unrelated questions, including ones about Maltese politics or administrative procedures, rather than food hygiene, kitchen safety, or customer service — the core of any catering job.

" "Why should a chef from India or the Philippines need to know who the Prime Minister of Malta is or what his duties are just to fry an egg?" — questions a frustrated employer in Sliema.

 🤖 AI-Only Course Delivery

The course is fully automated and lacks human touch. There is no real-time teacher, mentor, or practical demonstration. For many foreign applicants unfamiliar with online learning, this format feels robotic, confusing, and impersonal.

3. 📉 High Failure Rates in Phase 2

Even well-prepared applicants report failing Phase 2 of the course. Language barriers, unclear questions, and internet issues are common complaints. Worse still, only one free resit is allowed. Additional attempts require more payment, adding financial pressure on already-struggling applicants.

4. 🌍 Global Inequality in Access

TCNs from rural or developing regions often lack access to fast internet or up-to-date devices. Since the exam is online-only, the system inadvertently excludes thousands of otherwise capable workers.

5. 💸 High Costs and Lack of Transparency

With fees of nearly €475 per applicant, the Skill Pass is expensive — especially for those coming from low-income countries. Even more concerning, payments are being directed to a bank account in Ireland, raising eyebrows over transparency and public accountability.

With over 15,000 applicants enrolled, the total funds raised exceed €7.8 million, yet no detailed financial report has been made available to the public.

6. 🍛 No Specialisation for Ethnic Cuisines

Malta's culinary scene thrives on diversity. Restaurants specialising in Indian, Chinese, Thai, Turkish, and Filipino food are popular with tourists. But the Skill Pass offers no recognition of specialisation, making it harder for such restaurants to justify hiring niche chefs

.

7. 🕓 Time-Consuming and Delays Hiring

The process, which takes 3 to 4 months, delays visa processing and staffing. For seasonal businesses trying to gear up for summer, this delay is devastating.

8. 💬 No Preparation or Training Support

There is no official preparation or classroom course provided before the Skill Pass exam. Many applicants are left to figure it out themselves, often relying on unofficial, inconsistent sources for help.

🛂 Visa Rejections After Passing Skill Pass

Shockingly, passing the Skill Pass doesn’t guarantee a job. Many applicants still face visa rejections, with no refunds on the €1,500–€2,000 typically spent on:

• Visa application fees
• Travel insurance
• Medicals
• VFS service charges
• Flight booking
• Accommodation

Both employers and workers lose, financially and emotionally.  Employers are left without workers, and applicants lose significant sums of money without any employment or security.

🧭 What’s the Way Forward?

To rescue Malta’s struggling hospitality sector and rebuild trust in the system, industry experts propose the following reforms:

1. Complete Skill Pass Training in Malta After Arrival
   Workers can train during probation while on the job, ensuring skills are assessed in real-world kitchens.
2. Employer-Led Single Permits and Applications
   Employers should handle single permit and visa processing directly — reducing reliance on costly intermediaries.
3. Introduce Specialisation for Ethnic Cuisine
   Allow applicants to choose a track based on their culinary background — Indian, Chinese, Turkish, etc.
4. Content Created by Experts, Not Robots
   Courses should be developed and delivered by real chefs, trainers, and hospitality managers.
5. Fairer Retake Policies and Support
   Offer free or low-cost exam resits, prep courses, and live support to make the system more accessible and equitable
6. 

📉 A Crisis in the Making?

Reform Is Urgently Needed

While the Skill Pass may have been designed with good intentions, its current implementation is flawed, non-practical, and commercially exploitative. It does not reflect the real skills required in the catering industry, and it discourages skilled workers from choosing Malta as a destination.

If Malta wants to maintain its reputation as a leading tourist hub, it must listen to the voices of employers and employees and reform the Skill Pass system to be fair, transparent, and industry-relevant.

Without reform, Malta’s tradition of hospitality — once the pride of the nation — is at risk. Dozens of family-run restaurants are already closing due to staffing shortages. If nothing changes, more closures are likely.Malta has always opened its arms to the world. It’s time the system reflects that same spirit — fair, inclusive, and supportive of those who keep the island’s tourism thriving.

If Malta wants to remain a top-tier tourism destination, it must support its hospitality workers, respect the needs of local employers, and build a fair, transparent, and practical system that works for everyone.