Recent initiatives in parliament have led to changes in the Employment and Industrial Relations Act regarding the penalties imposed for persons convicted of victimisation and harassment of employees.
Whereas the fine and prison term enforceable before the changes stood at a maximum of €2,329.37 and six months (or both), persons found to be contravention would now be facing a minimum fine of €5,000 which can go up to a maximum of €10,000 and imprisonment for a term between six months and two years (or both).
Although these changes came into force fairly recently through the newly enacted Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Act, the basis remains that of the Council of Europe Convention on the prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) which was ratified by Malta back in 2014.
