The Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) is the Maltese regulatory department for matters relating to employment legislation and industrial relations. 

The main role of the Department is to protect the parties involved in an employment contract and maintain a strong employment relationship in a spirit of social partnership, thereby contributing to stable industrial relations, while providing information and analysis to the government on laws and measures dealing with employment conditions and industrial relations. 

The Department also offers its services to the general public, in particular those who are in employment or whose employment has been terminated, trade unions, employers and employers’ associations. 

In 2024, the Department's Customer Care section replied to 14,649 emails, served 3,122 customers and answered 25,386 calls received on the Department's helplines. 

The Department investigated 1202 cases of persons whose employment has been terminated and also those who are still in employment and therefore aims to recover unpaid wages and benefits and other payments and entitlements that are due. The amount of claims made by the Department in 2024 was € 2,626343.59 while the amount of wages collected by the Department and returned to workers amicably through mediation by the Department was €1,668569.87. 

In addition, in 2024 the Department launched an investigative study related to the Digital Platform for Delivery (food couriers) sector. The Department felt it necessary to carry out an investigative study to get a picture of what is happening in this sector and take necessary actions in case working conditions are not being observed. In this investigation, 49 employers are being investigated and 1897 employees are being covered. 

This year the Department of Industrial Relations and Employment started receiving applications and since the beginning of April, started to issue  licences  which for the first time will be regulating employment agencies operating as a temporary work agency and as an outsourcing agency. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that Employment Agencies and their operation take place in a regulated and accountable manner. In 2024, 135 licences were issued and 10 operators have been issued with a conditional licence. 

Another role of the Department is to proactively resolve trade disputes which arise between employers and trade unions through conciliatory meetings. This year 28 meetings were held  and agreement was reached in 23 cases.