Identity Malta will be revisiting its existing procedures and opening hours as well as recruiting additional personnel in a bid to address the growing demand that is slowly developing into a crisis at the state body.

Over the past months, foreign workers have been turning up at Identity Malta’s offices at the Evans Building in Valletta at the crack of dawn in a bid to acquire a work permit. Some people have even restored to sleeping there overnight to get to the front of the queue.

Last Thursday, people even hung up protest placards outside the building over the issue.

“In order to accommodate better customer needs, the current system used at the Expatriates Unit will no longer be in place but instead new front desk opening hours will be introduced from Monday 17th June 2019.

“The Expatriates Unit will be receiving applications from Monday to Friday between 07:30am and 11:30am, and resume processing afterwards. Identity Malta officials will be attending to the needs of all those queuing during that window period.

“Furthermore, as from Monday 1st July 2019, the Central Visa Unit will be accepting general queries and the submission of applications from Monday to Friday between 08:00am and 02:00pm,” Identity Malta said in a statement.

The changes, Identity Malta hopes, will increase customer contact time at the Central Visa Unit by 12 hours per week.

“These measures are intended to meet customer demands better.”

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