Substitute Hawker and Employees
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Substitute Hawker and Employees

As provided in the Trade Licences Regulations S.L. 441.07​ a Street or Market Hawker may appoint another person as a substitute by applying with the Trade Licensing Unit, within the Commerce Department, so that the substitute conducts the activity which the Street or Market Hawker cannot carry out himself.

The substitute may act in the absence of the Licensee for a period of not more than one (1) month in the aggregate within the licence period of one (1) year provided that he or she has been given a Licence by the Trade Licensing Unit to act as a substitute Street Hawker or a substitute Market Hawker.

However, an appointed substitute may further apply with the Trade Licensing Unit to carry out the licensed activity:

·         for any period of time during which the licensee is ill,

·         for any period of time during which the licensee is taking care of ailing parents, partner or children,

·         for any period of time during which the licensee is taking care of a parent, spouse, son or daughter who are registered as a disabled person with the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD),

·         where the licensee is pregnant, during the time of the pregnancy,

·        where the licensee gives birth or adopts a child, for a period of up to two (2) years from the date of birth or from the date of adoption respectively,

·        where the licensee is fostering a child, for a period of one (1) year from the date the fostering takes place or until the fostering ceases, whichever is the earlier.

The application for a Substitute Hawker The application​  is in electronic format and one is encouraged to submit it online. It requests information about the hawking activity, the persons involved, that is, the licensed street hawker and the prospective substitute, the motor vehicle used in conducting the activity and the location of the garage where it is held, as well as the premises where the goods are stored. Moreover it must be supported with the following documentation:

1.       passport size photo of the principal licence holder;

2.       passport size photo of the substitute hawker;

3.     a medical certificate in the case of illness, pregnancy or where the licensee is taking care of ailing parents, spouse or children;

4.      a birth certificate where the licensee has given birth to a child and proof that the licensee has adopted a child in case of adoption; 

5.   proof that the parent, partner, son or daughter, as the case may be, are registered as a disabled person with the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD) in the case where the licensee is taking care of a disabled parent, spouse, son or daughter;

6.      in the case of fostering, documentary evidence that the licensee is fostering a child, after having been certified able to act as foster father or mother by the Adoption and Fostering Panel of the Department for Family Welfare; and

7.    where the commercial activity involves the selling of food, an approval by the Environmental Health authorities that the premises indicated as a store may be used for the storing of items (provided that where the premises of the licensee is to be used as a store and such premises has already been certified by Environmental Health authorities, the application may instead be accompanied by a declaration indicating such use and certification and signed by both the licensee and the substitute). The Environmental Health Directorate can be contacted on 21337333 or by email mhi@gov.mt ​

A licensee may employ a person or persons to assist him in his work provided that such licensee or substitute is present where the commercial activity is taking place.

The licence does not carry any fees.  

Enquiries can be directed to tradelicenceapplications@gov.mt or by telephone on 25690100.

 Date of last update – 11.06.2021