Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535957
OUR smartphones have enabled unprec- edented convenience—food arrives at our doorsteps with a tap on a screen. We have rarely paused to think about the people powering this on-demand economy—men on motorbikes, often from faraway coun- tries, braving sun, rain, and dangerous roads to make a living that barely covers their most basic needs. For far too long, these platform workers, employed through a chain of different prof- it centres—fleet operators providing labour to the Bolt/Wolt app creators to serve the food suppliers—have existed in Malta's economic shadows. In 2023, after years of systemic abuse, a reckoning began, led by the persistent efforts of the General Workers' Union (GWU). When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Malta, like much of the world, came to a halt. Suddenly, platform workers be- came lifelines to deliver meals, parcels and groceries to isolated homes and families in quarantine. Their work was vital for us, but their reward—unspoken among us—was that they were paid miserable earnings, worked exhausting shifts, and experienced an utter disregard for their basic rights. Back then, the GWU began raising the alarm. We spoke out against the exploita- tive conditions many couriers were forced to endure. The meagre pay consisted of just a commission and they had no access to sick leave, paid vacation leave, statutory bonus- es, minimum rest, or even basic health and safety protections. Many of these workers, primarily third-country nationals, found themselves locked into dependent relation- ships with fleet operators, who were the middlemen extracting hefty commissions, while skirting legal responsibilities. It was a reality hidden in plain sight. De- livery drivers zipped through traffic to work 16-hour shifts just to earn €1,100 a month. Adding insult to injury, workers could be penalised for customer complaints or mis- takes in orders and were unsupported after traffic accidents or tragic deaths. Those who dared to speak up feared retaliation. Despite reforms introduced by the gov- ernment in 2023, including the establish- ment of a wage regulation order targeting digital platform workers, abuses persisted. On paper, the legislation guaranteed a min- imum wage, regulated working hours, and offered protections long denied to these workers. But adherence was minimal, and many fleet operators continued to flout the rules with impunity. In response, the GWU intensified its ef- forts. We met directly with couriers, lis- tened to their stories, and gave them a platform to speak. Workers from Bolt and Wolt came forward to reveal the grim real- ity of their daily lives. One courier told us about earning just €50 for a 12-hour shift. That's not dignified work. It's exploitation. We called for stricter enforcement, great- er transparency from the platforms, and a renewed commitment to uphold the law. In March 2025, after an investigation by the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER), 39 fleet operators were arraigned for breaches of the Wage Regula- tion Order—a clear indication of how deep the rot ran. We knew then that prosecutions alone weren't enough. Real change comes from collective action. In recent weeks, over 200 couriers joined the GWU, many of them seeking protection, representation, and a future with dignity. These workers are no longer isolated, but organised, informed, and determined to fight for their rights. A breakthrough has now been achieved by the GWU with an agreement in princi- ple with the Malta Delivery Fleet Operators Association, securing fair wages and legal working conditions for couriers. It's a vital step forward. While challenges remain, this marks a turning point. We will not rest until all platform workers in Malta are afforded the dignity and pro- tection they deserve. If companies fail to comply with the law, we will not hesitate to take further action. As gig economy platforms grow and la- bour becomes increasingly fragmented, we must not allow profit to come before peo- ple. Every worker, regardless of nationality or job title, has a right to fair pay, safe con- ditions, and respect. MY oh my what a mess! Joey Reno Vella, the current chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), is playing a very danger- ous game. A lawyer, who until very recently tried to school us on special persons of trust and meritocracy (go read his University thesis), is all of a sudden turning into an expert and defender of justice, truth and reconcilia- tion. It seems he believes that criminalising a smell emitted by a plant or exposing our community to police persecution is the most urgent matter in need of action. Maybe he is suffering from amnesia and forgot the promise to introduce the auto- matic expungement of criminal records (fedina penali)? Or maybe he just keeps confusing justice with clientelism and po- litical theatrics? One questions, justice for who? Why are people who use cannabis in Mal- ta left at the mercy of a chairperson with no background on human rights or cannabis regulation? Or is he just jumping around at the beating drums of others? Lest we for- get, no one on the ARUC board represents the voice of people who use cannabis. On the contrary you have politically appointed people from the pharmaceutical, medical, criminology and legal fields. Just in case decision makers are confused by all these whiffs of cannabis let us take the time to remind all that the decriminalisa- tion of cannabis has been developed to pro- tect a minority from years of dehumanising treatment and human rights abuses levied by the war on drugs. One of the main aims of decriminalisation is to protect people against exposure to po- lice persecution and legal or administrative risks such as nosey neighbours and fines. It would have been truly within the spirit of decriminalisation and harm reduction had the ARUC decided to help the can- nabis community through financial grants promoting sustainability and responsibility. How come none of the money generated is being reinvested in the community? After more than three years of blooming existence, we remain disappointed by the ARUC's lack of consideration for our rights and the need to protect us from stigma and discrimination. Does this mean we want a free for all? Not at all! ReLeaf Malta has always advocated for proportionate and just laws. As part of the democratic process, the ARUC is obliged to include consultations with registered NGOs representing the voice of people who use cannabis. Till this very day, we continue to face a wall and half baked poli- cies rekindling a culture of stigma and dis- crimination. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 JUNE 2025 4 OPINION Andrew Bonello is president of ReLeaf, a cannabis users advocacy group You have no authority to attack a minority! A lawyer on the loose… Andrew Bonello Josef Bugeja is general-secretary of the GWU Josef Bugeja Rights for workers, not servitude to the smartphone app Workers from Bolt and Wolt came forward to reveal the grim reality of their daily lives.