The Social Solidarity Ministry applies “stringent controls” to ensure benefits are only paid to eligible EU citizens, a spokeswoman said, after working restrictions were lifted on Bulgarian and Romanians.
Malta was one of nine EU countries obliged to give workers from these two countries full access to their labour markets on January 1.
Since joining the EU in January 2007, Romanians and Bulgarians in Malta had been required to obtain a licence from the Employment and Training Corporation in order to work.
These are issued for positions that require qualified or experienced staff, and for occupations for which there is a shortage of workers.
Romanians and Bulgarians now have the right to apply for all jobs without an employment licence, like their counterparts from other EU states.
They are also entitled to contributory benefits as long as they satisfy the contribution test and any other conditions specifically applicable to the benefit claimed.
Where non-contributory benefits are concerned, member states are not obliged to grant social assistance to economically non-active EU citizens or first-time job seekers during the first three months of residence.
“The ministry will ensure that all EU citizens who are entitled to a right will be receiving that right, while applying stringent controls against those who are not,” the Social Solidarity Ministry spokeswoman said.
She added that the ministry monitors benefit claims on a daily basis and had noticed a spike in claimants from Bulgaria or Romania.
Both countries joined the EU as its poorest members in January 2007. They did so on the condition that member states could restrict access to their labour markets for seven years.
The Employment Ministry had recently told The Sunday Times of Malta that Bulgarians and Romanians already filled jobs in the labour market that unemployed Maltese did not want or were not qualified for.
Since Malta joined the EU 10 years ago, 3,074 Romanians and Bulgarians have applied for jobs on the island.
There are 1,496 Romanians and Bulgarians working in Malta, the Employment Ministry said.
pcooke@timesofmalta.com