I think I was denied a promotion because I’m pregnant. What can I do?

Discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is expressly prohibited under Maltese employment law, and pregnant employees and new mothers benefit from specific protections under the Employment and Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 452 of the Laws of Malta, and related equality legislation enforced by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE), which is the body specifically responsible for investigating discrimination complaints, including those related to pregnancy and maternity in employment. While proving discriminatory intent can be challenging when no explicit reason was given, the timing you describe, combined with being the more qualified candidate, can support a discrimination claim, particularly since the burden can shift to the employer to provide a genuine, non-discriminatory explanation once you establish enough facts to raise a reasonable inference of discrimination. Document everything, including your qualifications relative to the successful candidate, the timeline of when you disclosed your pregnancy, and any communications around the decision. You can file a formal complaint with the NCPE, and separately, you may have grounds to bring a case before the Industrial Tribunal.