S.L. 217.15 Art. 13Equal treatment.

Without prejudice to the right of the Director to withdraw or refuse to renew the EU Blue Card in accordance with the provisions of regulation 8, EU Blue Card holders shall enjoy equal treatment as Maltese nationals, which shall be as regards:

(a) working conditions, including pay and dismissal, as well as health and safety requirements at the workplace;

(b) freedom of association and affiliation and membership of an organisation representing workers or employers or of any organisation whose members are engaged in a specific occupation, including the benefits conferred by such organisations, without prejudice to the national provisions on public policy and public security;

(c) education and vocational training: Provided that such equal treatment shall not include study and maintenance grants and loans or other grants and loans regarding secondary and higher education and vocational training:

Provided further that:

(i) access to university and post-secondary education may be subject to specific prerequisites in accordance with the Further and

Higher Education Act; (ii)the Member State concerned may restrict equal treatment to cases where the registered or usual HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMPLOYMENT

place of residence of the EU Blue Card holder, or that of the family member for whom benefits are claimed, lies within Malta;

(iii) recognition of diplomas, certificates and other professional qualifications in accordance with the relevant national procedures;

(d) provisions in national law regarding the branches of social security as defined in Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71. The special provisions in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No. 859/2003 shall apply accordingly;

(e) without prejudice to existing bilateral agreements, payment of income-related acquired statutory pensions in respect of old age, at the rate applied by virtue of the law of the debtor Member State(s) when moving to a third country;

(f) access to goods and services and the supply of goods and services made available to the public as well as information and counselling services afforded by employment offices: Provided that such access to goods and services shall not include procedures for obtaining housing: Provided further that this paragraph shall be without prejudice to the freedom of contract in accordance with Community and national law;

(g) free access to the entire territory of the Member State concerned, within the limits provided for by national law.