"Forced to Hide : The Human Cost of Legal Precarity and Labour Exploitation in Malta"

The Human Cost of Legal Precarity and Labour Exploitation in Malta is a research conducted by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Malta. The presentation of the findings revealed the harrowing situation of migrants workers in Malta. An animated short film Paper Ghosts was projected, based on real-life experiences, tracing the journey of two characters called “ghost paper” workers.

Through impactful imagery, the film highlighted the hard realities of exploitation: undeclared work, humiliation, sexual harassment, language barriers, and social rejection.

One line particularly resonated in the room: the female character, after finally obtaining a legal cleaning job and forming a friendship with a colleague, says, “It was the first time I feel like a human being”. Sadly, this fragile sense of dignity was short-lived, as her contract was not renewed. This powerful introduction immediately immersed the audience in the gravity of the issue.

First page of the booklet published by JRS

The JRS report highlights the vulnerability of migrant workers in Malta, particularly those in "de facto" undocumented or precarious legal situations. Without stable access to the labour market, they are highly exposed to abusive employers and an administrative system that denies them basic protections.

The research included interviews with nine participants from diverse nationalities and legal statuses, who shared experiences of precarious work, exploitation, and social marginalization. Their testimonies reveal lives suspended between constant fear of inspections, psychological stress at work, and the impossibility of building a stable future.

Beyond workplace abuses, the report also stresses that daily life in local communities is increasingly difficult for migrants. Many report being constantly vulnerable to immigration raids and enforcement measures, even after living and working in Malta for several years.

JRS has formulated three key recommendations to address the situation:

1. Reintroduce a regularisation pathway for long-term migrants without legal status,

2. Ensure workers’ rights are protected, regardless of legal status,

3. Create collaborative spaces for dialogue between government, civil society, and employers to develop concrete solutions to prevent exploitation.

The report can be found here.