Food delivery couriers will be paid a basic rate higher than the minimum wage under the terms of a new collective agreement that is being finalised for the sector.

Malta Delivery Fleet Operators Association (MDFOA) President Iousef Meli told WhosWho.mt that the basic rate of couriers will be set slightly above the minimum wage, which means they will no longer be classified as basic wage workers.

“We understand that this sector is becoming more and more important and we want to improve it,” Mr Meli said.

“It’s a win-win situation for all. Fleet operators will have peace of mind about the terms of employment, while employees can be assured that their employers must abide by a minimum set of conditions.”

Besides the basic rate, the collective agreement is also set to establish minimum conditions for workers' rights such as working hours, overtime, sick leave, vacation leave, statutory bonuses, and health and safety measures.

It will only apply to couriers employed by fleet operators, not self-employed drivers who operate through food delivery platforms.

Mr Meli said that issues related to algorithmic changes on delivery platforms should be discussed directly between fleet operators and the platforms themselves.

“Employers enter into service agreements with platforms, which means the platforms pay fleet owners, who then pay their couriers a salary,” he said.

The signing of an MOU between the MDFOA and the GWU last December

“It is the employer, not the platform, which has the final say on how much couriers are paid and if employers aren’t pleased with the service agreement, they should negotiate with the platform.”

Last December, the MDFOA signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Workers’ Union, setting the path for full collective agreements.

Malta currently has two main food delivery platforms – Bolt and Wolt – but a third, homegrown platform, Buzz, is set to enter the market in the coming weeks.