Minister urges striking couriers to unionise amid ongoing labour problems despite new rules

When hundreds of food delivery drivers went on strike this weekend to protest pay cuts from digital delivery platform Bolt, a government minister urged them to form a union.

This is despite the introduction of the Digital Platform Delivery Wages Council’s wage regulation in January 2023, which has raised questions about the effectiveness of current employment protection laws.

Striking workers explained that they were protesting low pay after the platform scrapped their weekend bonuses, pointing out that on normal days they earn a paltry €2 for each delivery, while on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – when the platform is at its busiest – the amount increases to €4 or €4.50.

Additionally, Bolt has scrapped its bonus system and employees now receive a flat rate throughout the week.

Food delivery companies have repeatedly raised concerns about precarious working conditions, despite government efforts to implement legislation guaranteeing platform workers’ rights.

Under the new regulations, which came into effect in January 2023, couriers are guaranteed a minimum wage, overtime pay, double pay on public holidays, sick leave, accident and annual leave, as well as exemption from paying for equipment and fuel. However, couriers often complain that in practice they do not earn the minimum wage of €4.82 per hour in Malta.

The strike, which began Saturday afternoon, saw some 345 couriers refuse to take orders from the app, leading to widespread delivery disruptions. Customers took to social media to express their frustrations, only to learn of the ongoing labor dispute.

In response to the strike, a Bolt spokesman said: Newsbook Malta on Sunday that they were aware of the action “taking place today by a small group of couriers”. The company defended its practices, stating that “over the past few months, hourly earnings for couriers in Malta have increased due to an increase in the number of deliveries per hour compared to last year”.

They acknowledged recent changes to the multipliers used to incentivise couriers during periods of high demand, but said overall hourly earnings had increased.

Crucially, Bolt Malta claims that it does not pay its couriers directly. Instead, it works with fleet companies that provide delivery services and pay the couriers for each delivery.

“Each fleet company is responsible for paying their employees’ wages in accordance with their internal procedures. Bolt does not pay wages directly,” the spokesperson explained, adding that they had not received any direct communication from the striking couriers.

These explanations raise questions about the chain of responsibility for ensuring fair wages and working conditions, especially in view of the new regulations that are supposedly in force.

Employment Minister Byron Camilleri publicly backed striking workers on Monday, saying: “Bolt workers are doing well to make their voices heard about their conditions and rights,” calling on couriers to unionise and offering his ministry’s support.

However, this government support contrasts sharply with reality. Despite new regulations supposedly guaranteeing a minimum wage, overtime pay and various benefits, many couriers report earning less than the Maltese minimum wage of €4.82 per hour. This discrepancy highlights a significant gap between legislation and enforcement.

The situation is particularly serious for foreign workers, who often face exploitative practices. Reports suggest that some workers pay fleet agencies up to €7,000 for work permits, while companies can take up to 50% of their earnings. This has led to accusations of “modern slavery” in the platform sector.

Critics say the government has failed to adequately enforce existing laws and tackle exploitative practices in the gig economy.

This isn’t the first time Bolt couriers have gone on strike. In 2022, couriers united in protest after a colleague was attacked while picking up an order at Żabbar. That incident sparked demands for better pay and improved working conditions, issues that appear to remain unresolved.