Eight-Month-Pregnant Childcare Worker Facing Deportation Due To Her Employer’s Negligence
Corazon*, a Third Country National from south-east Asia – who is eight months pregnant – spoke to Lovin Malta about how her employer failed to register her employment.
This led to Identity Malta saying that she has “not been legally residing in Malta”, naming her a “prohibited immigrant”, despite the fact that she has been living and working in Malta for six years.
“Since I received the refusal email last Thursday, I have been so stressed that during the night, I thought I was giving birth. There’s been water coming out, so I thought my water had broken, and that I was in labour because of the stress.”
The first option delineated by Identity Malta, after this decision was made, is to “make immediate arrangements to leave the Schengen territory” and “ensure your immediate departure from Malta”.
Her other option, which she chose, was to lodge an appeal. This would mean that she could remain in the country until an appeal decision is released. Before that decision is made, she is not allowed to work – and may struggle to receive essential pregnancy benefits.
“I won’t be able to work while I’m appealing my case, and its going to be hard for me because I’ll be giving birth next month. So I can’t even apply for maternity leave.”
TCNs in Malta should be advised that, prior to applying for a change of employment with Identity Malta, they need to check their Jobsplus status and ensure that their employer has actually registered them. If the employer failed to do so, they may be labeled “prohibited immigrants”, and issued deportation notices.
Corazon’s first child was born in Malta almost four years ago. Her next child will be born here. She has worked in childcare, taking care of children in Malta, for several years.
All of it was sanctioned by Identity Malta, who issued her work permits and a residency card – but Jobsplus has not been aware of her employment since midway through last year.
“My child lives here, he’s used to it here. He has friends here. If we have to leave and he has to adapt to another place, another school, he has to adapt to being back in my country, all because of my employer’s mistake, that isn’t fair.”
This is not an isolated incident. It isn’t clear why many employers are failing to register employees with Jobsplus, but whatever the case may be, this negligence has a very real human cost – and one which discriminates indiscriminately – even against women who are within a few weeks of their due-date.
*Names have been changed for the individual’s protection
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