Helping employers attract, reward and retain talent worldwide
The Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) is an employer-sponsored, trust-based employee benefit and long-term savings arrangement that helps organisations attract, reward and retain employees while supporting long-term savings and financial wellbeing.
Built on a scalable Master Trust structure, the EBT enables participating companies to establish tailored employee benefit programmes while benefiting from a common legal, governance, administration, custody and investment framework. The EBT is designed to help address the challenges of providing consistent long-term benefits for teachers whose careers span multiple countries and employers.
Organisations today face increasing pressure to attract, reward and retain talented employees in a competitive and increasingly mobile workforce.
The Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) provides a flexible and scalable framework for delivering meaningful employee benefits, supporting long-term savings and strengthening employee retention. Implemented through an independent trust structure, the EBT enables employers to create tailored benefit arrangements that align with their workforce objectives while helping employees build long-term value through contributions and potential investment growth.
Strengthens the overall reward package and encourages longer-term service.
Supports continuity for employees moving between participating companies, subject to the Trustee’s acceptance and applicable Plan Rules.
Allows employers to define eligibility, contribution rates, vesting, access, leaver treatment and benefit events.
Separates employer decision-making, trustee oversight, discretionary investment management and custody.
Enables multiple employers and employee cohorts to operate within one Master Trust while maintaining separate records and rules.
Introduces regular, disciplined long-term saving with transparent member-level reporting.
Structure
Maltese-law Master Trust supporting multiple employers, group-level Plan Rules and individual beneficiary records or sub-funds.
Funding
Employer contributions through payroll; employee top-ups may be permitted where the relevant Plan Rules and local law allow.
Trustee
STM Malta Pension Services Limited.
Investment Manager
Professionally managed investment portfolios across a range of risk profiles.
Custodian
Morningstar, responsible for custody-related services, asset records and transaction support under the agreed operating model.
Benefits
Long-term savings, end-of-service provision and other permitted employee benefits determined by the Plan Rules.
Returns
Market-linked and not guaranteed; values may rise or fall.
Legal character
An employee benefit trust, not a pension scheme or bank deposit.
The EBT is designed to help employees build long-term savings through regular employer-funded contributions. They benefit from:
EBT can be used to support a range of employee benefit and savings arrangements, including the International Teachers Savings Plan.
The employer completes due diligence, signs participation documentation and agrees its Plan Rules.
The employee receives prescribed information, completes identity and tax-residency checks, and provides beneficiary nominations.
Payroll remittances and data files are tested and reconciled.
Contributions are directed to the approved professionally managed investment portfolios under an Investment Manager.
The member receives statements or digital access showing contributions, holdings, charges, performance and vesting status.
Changes to employment, address, tax residence, risk profile or beneficiary nomination are recorded.
The Trustee verifies entitlement, obtains required documents, disinvests assets and authorises payment after applicable tax, sanctions and compliance checks.
The EBT utilises professionally managed investment portfolios across a range of risk profiles. The portfolios are monitored and rebalanced as required, helping members maintain an investment approach aligned with their chosen objectives and risk tolerance.
Prioritise capital stability and lower volatility.
Greater exposure to cash and fixed income, with limited growth assets.
Seek modest growth while controlling downside risk.
Diversified allocation with more defensive than growth assets.
Balance capital growth and risk over the medium to long term.
Broad mix of equities, fixed income and diversifying assets.
Pursue higher long-term growth with greater variability.
Higher allocation to growth assets while retaining diversification.
Maximise long-term capital growth for investors able to accept material volatility.
Predominantly growth assets, including global equities.
EBT has been designed as a programme that supports different company requirements. Every participating company can define key elements of its benefit programme.
This flexibility allows organisations to align their employee benefits strategy with their organisational goals while maintaining a consistent governance framework.
Access to vested contributions and any withdrawals remain subject to the Plan Rules and applicable Addendum.
No tax is applied within Malta. Your personal tax position depends on your country of tax residence.
You should seek independent tax advice.
The EBT is designed to provide a flexible, employer-funded long-term benefit structure, primarily for end-of-service benefits, while also supporting incentives and emergency payments.
No. The arrangement is not a pension scheme and is not regulated as such in Malta. It is a trust-based structure administered by a regulated Trustee.
Investment decisions are made by a discretionary Investment Manager appointed by the Trustee.
Neither the Employer nor Employees have direct control once contributions are made.
Yes. Employers determine contribution levels for their employees and notify the Trustee accordingly.
No. Employee contributions are optional and can be made at the employee’s discretion.
The EBT allows flexibility in:
Yes. The structure is designed to allow portability of member funds, supporting employees who move between participating schools.
The trust itself is tax-exempt in Malta, but the tax treatment for employers depends on the jurisdiction in which they operate.
Independent tax advice should always be sought.
The structure includes:
The EBT enhances:
The Plan helps you build long-term savings and financial benefits, largely funded by your employer.
No. Contributions from employees are voluntary and can be made at your discretion.
This depends on:
No. Your benefits depend entirely on investment performance, and returns are not guaranteed.
Your benefits will depend on:
Yes, in many cases your member fund can move with you, supporting an international career path.
Your fund will be paid to:
A professional Investment Manager appointed by the Trustee manages the investments on your behalf.
No. This is not a pension scheme, but a flexible benefit trust arrangement.
You will typically have access to an administration platform/app providing updates and information on your investments and savings.
While contributions may become vested after the applicable vesting period (typically 2-5 years, depending on the terms agreed with the employer), any access to vested contributions or withdrawals remains subject to the terms of the Plan Rules and any applicable Addendum.
If you prefer to speak with us, please contact our Intermediary Relations team:
Find out how an EBT can help your company support staff’s financial wellbeing, strengthen retention and create lasting value. Complete the form and our expert team will be in touch.