Uber risks licence suspension under new Y-plate rules

A new set of regulations for Y-plate vehicles came into force on Thursday, potentially placing ride-hailing giant Uber’s operating licence at risk, Transport Malta announced.

The regulations introduce a 12-hour daily driving limit. Transport Malta will now be able to access data from ride-hailing platforms to monitor drivers’ working hours.

Drivers found exceeding the limit could face fines of up to €500 and have their driver tag suspended.

Operators such as Uber could also have their operating licences suspended if they fail to comply with the new rules.

The announcement follows monitoring and verification exercises carried out by Transport Malta, which found that Uber, among other operators, had not met the new framework’s regulatory requirements and legal obligations.

Transport Malta said it was taking all necessary steps to ensure immediate compliance with the law.

Sustainable Mobility Minister Chris Bonett said Uber’s licence would be suspended if the company failed to meet the required standards.

“The appeal to Uber is clear. Uber has known for months that this law is coming into force,” Bonett said on Facebook.

“Together with Transport Malta, we are taking all steps permitted by law against Uber so that, in the event of non-compliance and according to the timeframes established by law, Transport Malta will proceed to suspend the company’s operating licence.”

Uber suspends self-employed cab drivers

Self-employed cab drivers were suspended from working through Uber on Thursday following recent legislative changes requiring ride-hailing platforms to provide drivers with fare details and other information before they accept a booking.

Uber informed the drivers that it was “currently working on implementing the technology necessary to meet these regulatory requirements”.

The message circulated online as the Light Passenger Operators Association criticised the decision, arguing that Uber had only encountered difficulties implementing the changes in Malta despite already offering similar functionality in other markets.

PN welcomes cap on cab drivers’ working hours but calls for broader mobility plan

The Nationalist Party welcomed the decision to cap cab drivers’ working hours, noting that it had proposed such a framework more than a year ago.

The party said the new regulations would improve road safety, strengthen passenger protection and provide fairer working conditions for drivers. However, it stressed that the measure addressed only part of Malta’s wider mobility crisis.

According to the PN, the crisis extends beyond Y-plate vehicles, with several transport-related problems remaining unresolved, including traffic congestion, limited parking and the quality of public transport.

“When the government adopts a sound Opposition proposal, we will be the first to acknowledge and welcome it,” the PN said.

“At the same time, however, we will continue insisting that the country needs a comprehensive plan addressing all mobility challenges, not just one.”

The party said it would continue working constructively to propose concrete solutions to these challenges.