IOM/BoltA coalition of government, private sector, and civil society groups in Malta has held its inaugural meeting to develop new standards for the country’s platform economy, focusing on the rights of thousands of third-country national couriers and drivers.
The “Advisory Group,” formed under a joint project by the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and mobility platform Bolt, convened in Valletta last week. The initiative, “Bridging the Gap – Integrating Migrants,” aims to address labour governance and fair work standards in the ride-hailing and delivery sectors.
The meeting brought together representatives from Malta’s home affairs ministry, trade unions, fleet owners, and civil society to identify industry gaps and plan training programmes set to launch in 2026. Bolt’s Southern Europe Policy Director, Andrea Vota, called the group a “vital consultative mechanism,” stating feedback would directly inform a new Code of Conduct.
The collaboration follows a turbulent period for Malta’s gig economy. In July 2025, Bolt and the IOM first announced the partnership amid intense scrutiny over working conditions. That announcement came as Maltese authorities began legal proceedings against 39 fleet operators for alleged widespread violations of delivery workers’ rights.
Workers have previously protested pay as low as €2.50 per delivery, with couriers for various platforms striking over earnings and conditions. Malta’s economic reliance on foreign labour has also drawn criticism, with over 1,600 companies found illegally employing third-country nationals in 2023.
IOM’s Director for the Mediterranean, Salvatore Sortino, stated the partnership demonstrates how the private sector can work with institutions to “ensure fair, safe, and inclusive opportunities for migrants.” A driver attending the meeting, Ghouse Khan, welcomed the initiative, noting the difficulties foreigners can face settling in Malta.
The Advisory Group is expected to produce a self-assessment checklist for the private sector and refine Bolt’s Code of Conduct in the coming months.
