The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and
Development, together with SportMalta and the Public Administration HR Office
(PAHRO) held discussions with the aim to amend and improve the special sports
leave policy, for the benefit of local sports people who represent Malta on the
International scene, both locally and abroad.
As a result of these discussions the new revised and
improved provisions in relation to participation at international sports
activities held both locally and abroad are now included in the Public Service
Management Code.
These are the new conditions:
4.5.6. International Sports
activities held locally and abroad
4.5.6.1. Public officers participating
as athletes, coaches or accompanying officials in international sports
activities, both locally and abroad, are allowed special leave with pay. Public
officers benefitting from the 20/20 Sports Training Leave Scheme are not
precluded from being granted special paid leave under this policy.
4.5.6.2. International Sports
activities held abroad
Special leave with pay is allowed for a maximum of ten
(10) events per calendar year when:
(1) members of a National Sport Organisation will be representing Malta in both
competitive and friendly events held abroad;
(2) members of Local Sport Organisations (individual clubs) will be
participating in competitive events held abroad .
All absences directly related to the actual duration of the specific event,
such as travel days, are also to be covered by special paid leave.
4.5.6.3. International Sports
activities held locally
One day special paid leave is allowed for actual
participation in international sports activities held locally when:
(1) members of a National Sport Organisation will be representing Malta in both
competitive and friendly events held locally;
(2) members of Local Sport Organisations (individual clubs) will be
participating in competitive international events held locally.
4.5.6.4. Attendance at mandatory
conferences and meetings
Special paid leave is allowed for attendance at
mandatory conferences and meetings when:
(1) officials of a National or Local Sport Organisation will be representing
their organisation at mandatory conferences and meetings held abroad, such as
the annual general meetings of their respective international federation;
All absences directly related to the actual duration of the specific conference
and meeting, such as travel days, are also to be covered by special paid leave.
4.5.6.5. Application Procedure
The applicant should submit an application to the
respective Director, copied to the Director responsible for Corporate Services,
by not later than fifteen (15) days before the event. The request should be
endorsed by SPORTMALTA and copied to the Permanent Secretary for Sport. All the
documentation listed in paragraph 4.5.6.5.1. should be included.
4.5.6.5.1. The application should include the
following documentation:
i) information about the International Sports Event or
a copy of the official invitation in case of a conference or meeting;
ii) the endorsement of the National Sport Organisation of the discipline
concerned and SportMalta, in the case of members or officials of National Sport
Organisations representing Malta in competitive or friendly events or attending
mandatory conferences or meetings;
iii) the endorsement of the Local Sport Organisation and SportMalta, in the
case of members or officials of Local Sport Organisations participating in
competitive events or attending mandatory conferences or meetings;
iv) the duration of the event, in the case of events and mandatory conferences
and meetings being held abroad;
v) the day/s during which the applicant will actually be participating in
sports activities held locally;
vi) the number of days of special leave being requested.
4.5.6.5.2. The
National Sport Organisation/Local Sport Organisation responsible for endorsing
the request should support the application with documentation that:
1) it is registered with SportMalta;
2) the event is recognised by SportMalta as an International event; or that the
conference/meeting is
recognised by SportMalta as mandatory;
3) the officer will be participating in and representing Malta at the
International event or mandatory
conference/meeting held locally or abroad; and whether the event is being held
in Malta or abroad.
4.5.6.5.3. In those
cases where the applicant is an athlete already benefitting from the 20/20
Sport Training Leave Scheme, presentation of the related approval, and, in lieu
of the documentation listed in paragraph
4.5.6.5.2., sub-paragraphs
1-4, would suffice, so long as the request for special paid leave is being made
in connection with the same International event.
4.5.6.5.4. Within five (5)
days from receiving the application, the respective Director shall inform the
employee in writing whether the application has been approved or not. A request
may be refused in such instances as acute staff shortage or when the employee
is performing specialised duties which require oneâs full time presence.
4.5.6.5.5. In those
cases where the employee cannot be released, the employee may appeal to his/her
Permanent Secretary who shall investigate the case and decide whether to accede
to the request or otherwise. The decision taken by the respective Permanent Secretary
will be final.
4.5.6.5.6. All
decisions shall be addressed to the Permanent Secretary responsible for Sport,
and copied to SportMalta and the Director, Employee Relations within PAHRO.
4.5.6.5.7. The
Permanent Secretary responsible for Sport will notify SportMalta, the employee
and the respective Director of the final decision to authorise/reject the
employeeâs application. The Permanent Secretary responsible for Sport shall
have the power to overturn a positive recommendation made in respect of
paragraph 4.5.6.5.4.