Valletta - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
There are some bad attitudes about migrants living in Malta and there remain some strongly held beliefs about traditional gender roles. Abortion remains a contentious topic in this very Catholic country and equity in work, pay, benefits, and household chores has not been achieved for Maltese women. - May 2023
Not really. They are really scared of immigrants "taking over" but the country needs the labor. - Oct 2018
While I think the Maltese, despite being 95% Catholic, are somewhat tolerant of other religions, they are shockingly racist. Dark-skinned people get treated quite badly. Also, women are certainly not treated equally here. This entire society is planned around having someone who stays home (cooking, cleaning, having babies, etc) as many services are deliveries and are conducted during the day. Maltese don't really work odd hours. Work is generally Mon-Fri during regular hours. Only if your industry demands other hours (retail, etc). It can be frustrating in that you have to run home to meet a repairman, etc or can't be home to get something delivered because you don't have a stay-at-home spouse. And, you'll see men yell at women on the roads, calling them stupid, etc. - Sep 2016
In general the people are pretty tolerant, but you will run into some prejudices against North Africans or Eastern Europeans. Most immigrants who come from these areas are looked down upon, especially those working in the hotel business. Locals sometimes accuse these groups with compounding any crime or prostitution problems. People of dark skin and Muslims, we have observed being treated poorly or with prejudices. - Jan 2014
Medium. - Feb 2010
Yes the Maltese are extremely xenophobic and racist. - Feb 2010
There is some racial prejudice against people with dark skin, in part due to the influx of African boat people in recent years. The Catholic religion is predominant, although there are a variety of churches, and you will even see quite a few Muslim women in head scarves. - Jul 2009
