NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR FOOD COURIERS HAILLED AS MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND INDUSTRY STABILITY

Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard has welcomed the signing of a new collective agreement between the General Workers’ Union (GWU) and the Malta Delivery Fleet Operators Association (MDFOA), describing it as a significant step forward for workers’ rights and industrial stability in Malta’s food delivery sector.

Speaking about the agreement, Attard said it establishes a clear framework of rights and obligations that strengthens worker protection while also providing greater certainty and stability for operators within the industry. He stressed that the deal reflects a balanced approach that safeguards employees without undermining the competitiveness of responsible employers.

The agreement introduces a range of improved conditions for food couriers, including a fixed monthly salary replacing commission-based pay, paid annual and sick leave, overtime entitlements, and premium rates in line with the collective agreement. It also ensures that workers will no longer be required to cover costs related to uniforms, vehicles, or essential equipment, while wages will now be paid directly into employees’ bank accounts.

Attard highlighted that developments such as this help ensure a fairer and more structured labour environment, noting that collective agreements play an important role in modernising employment relations and promoting social dialogue between employers and workers.

He added that the initiative could serve as a model for other sectors, encouraging wider adoption of similar frameworks that prioritise dignity at work while maintaining a sustainable business environment.

The agreement, signed following months of discussions between the GWU and MDFOA, has been described by stakeholders as a milestone for Malta’s delivery sector and a potential benchmark for platform-based employment regulation across the European Union.

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