Amid strikes by hundreds of Bolt food delivery couriers protesting reduced wages, Ministers Andy Ellul and Byron Camilleri have publicly endorsed the couriers and advised them to unionize or report any injustices by their employers to the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER).
The strike which occurred over the past weekend featured around 345 couriers refusing to accept orders from Bolt.
Exclusively speaking to Malta Daily, a spokesperson from Bolt stated that the company does respect the rights of the couriers to protest and revealed that Bolt does not actually employ the couriers but instead collaborates with fleet operators that provide delivery services and compensates them per delivery with respect to Maltese laws.
The spokesperson also revealed that Bolt has always been committed to partnering with fleet operators that meet their legal requirements and is actively removing those fleet operators which are not operating under those said legal guidelines. Lastly it was revealed that olt is currently cooperating with the Maltese Authorities, specifically the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER).
Employment Minister Byron Camilleri has endorsed the striking couriers even advising them to unionise and offering them support from the Employment ministry.
Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul also reaffirmed his support for the couriers also advising them to report any injustices by their employers to the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER).
Despite governmental support, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Although new regulations are meant to ensure minimum wage, overtime pay, and various benefits, many couriers report earning less than Malta’s minimum wage of €4.82 per hour. This discrepancy underscores a substantial gap between the legislation and its enforcement.
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