Key stakeholders unite to secure leading standards for foreign workers in Malta

Bolt, one of the leading European mobility platforms, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, convened in Malta last Tuesday, 25 November, for the inaugural meeting of the independent Advisory Group of their joint project “Bridging the Gap - Integrating Migrants”. The meeting marked an important step in protecting the rights of couriers and drivers working in Malta’s platform economy.

The Advisory Group represents a unique whole-of-society approach, bringing together government institutions, private sector operators, trade unions, and civil society organisations to enhance labour migration governance and promote fair work standards for third-country nationals (TCNs).

Hosted at Europe House, the meeting focused on identifying key gaps and needs in the industry and gathering initial input for fleet and courier training programs launching in 2026. Participants appreciated the collaborative format, which will continue through two additional meetings scheduled for the coming months.

“The Advisory Group is a vital consultative mechanism, facilitating information sharing and strategic discussion among key stakeholders. We are delighted with the success of this first meeting, which underlined all parties’ commitment to setting a high standard in the Maltese market” said Andrea Vota, Director of Policy for Southern Europe at Bolt. “The detailed feedback we received today is invaluable and will directly inform the future development of our Code of Conduct and ensure our capacity-building initiatives are both impactful and aligned with fair recruitment standards”

“Effective migration governance requires collective action” noted Salvatore Sortino, IOM’s Director for the Coordination Office for the Mediterranean (COMED). “Our collaboration with Bolt demonstrates how the private sector can work alongside IOM, government, and civil society to ensure fair, safe, and inclusive opportunities for migrants. Together, we can promote responsible migration management in Malta and deliver benefits for the entire community”.

Ghouse Khan, one of the ride-hailing drivers in attendance added: “I really enjoy working as a driver in Malta, it gives me freedom and lets me feel part of the community. But I also see how tough it can be for foreigners to settle in. That’s why this initiative means a lot. It’s great to see so many people working together, and I’m excited to see where it leads.”

The meeting featured contributions from key government representatives, including Ambassador for Migration Malcolm Cutajar from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Security and Employment, who presented Malta’s Labour Migration Policy, and David Debattista from the Human Rights Directorate, who outlined the Integration Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030. Opening remarks were delivered by IOM COMED’s Director Salvatore Sortino and Anita Vella, Head of Unit for Legal Pathways and Integration at the EU Commission’s DG HOME, joining remotely from Brussels. Iousef Meli, President of the Malta Delivery Fleets Owners Association also presented its Code of Conduct, an initiative developed under Bolt’s support.

Present stakeholders included representatives from the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations, Identità, Transport Malta, the Malta Cooperative Federation, the Malta Chamber of SMEs, the General Workers Union, fleets, couriers, drivers, and civil society organizations.

The Advisory Group’s work is expected to produce concrete outputs, including an updated IOM private sector self-assessment checklist, feedback on the implementation of Bolt’s Code of Conduct, and critical inputs for the design of training programs.