A broad coalition of public, private, and civil society stakeholders has convened in Malta to advance fair work standards and improve labour migration governance for third-country nationals (TCNs) employed in the platform economy.

Bolt and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) held the inaugural meeting of the independent Advisory Group for their joint project Bridging the Gap – Integrating Migrants on Tuesday, 25 November. The initiative aims to support foreign couriers and drivers working in Malta’s ride-hailing and delivery sectors, while aligning industry practices with international fair recruitment standards.

Hosted at Europe House, the meeting brought together representatives from government entities, trade unions, employers’ organisations, platform operators, driver and fleet associations, and non-governmental groups. The advisory group will serve as a consultative forum throughout the project’s 12-month implementation period.

Participants discussed existing challenges facing migrant workers in the sector, identifying areas for improvement as well as priorities for training programmes set to launch in 2026. Two further meetings are planned in the coming months to refine these outputs.

“The advisory group is a vital consultative mechanism, facilitating information sharing and strategic discussion among key stakeholders. We are delighted with the success of this first meeting, which underlined all parties’ commitment to setting a high standard in the Maltese market,” said Andrea Vota, Director of Policy for Southern Europe at Bolt. “The detailed feedback we received today is invaluable and will directly inform the future development of our Code of Conduct and ensure our capacity-building initiatives are both impactful and aligned with fair recruitment standards.”

IOM highlighted the importance of cooperation across sectors in improving protections for migrant workers. “Effective migration governance requires collective action,” noted Salvatore Sortino, IOM’s Director for the Coordination Office for the Mediterranean (COMED). “Our collaboration with Bolt demonstrates how the private sector can work alongside IOM, government, and civil society to ensure fair, safe, and inclusive opportunities for migrants. Together, we can promote responsible migration management in Malta and deliver benefits for the entire community.”

Drivers themselves emphasised the significance of the initiative. “I really enjoy working as a driver in Malta, it gives me freedom and lets me feel part of the community. But I also see how tough it can be for foreigners to settle in. That’s why this initiative means a lot. It’s great to see so many people working together, and I’m excited to see where it leads,” said Ghouse Khan, one of the participants.

Government outlines policy developments

The meeting also featured contributions from key government officials. Ambassador for Migration Malcolm Cutajar presented Malta’s Labour Migration Policy, while David Debattista from the Human Rights Directorate outlined the Integration Strategy and Action Plan 2025–2030. Opening remarks were delivered by Sortino and Anita Vella, Head of Unit for Legal Pathways and Integration at the European Commission’s DG HOME, who joined remotely from Brussels.

Iousef Meli, President of the Malta Delivery Fleets Owners Association, presented the organisation’s Code of Conduct, developed with Bolt’s support.

Stakeholders present included representatives from the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations, Identità, Transport Malta, the Malta Cooperative Federation, the Malta Chamber of SMEs, the General Workers Union, as well as fleet owners, couriers, drivers, and civil society organisations.

The advisory group’s work is expected to deliver several tangible outcomes, including updated IOM private sector self-assessment tools, recommendations for the implementation of Bolt’s Code of Conduct, and input for training programmes for couriers and fleet managers.

Bridging the Gap is funded through the Bolt Urban Fund and will run for 12 months starting September 2025. The project aims to support more consistent labour standards, improve integration measures, and strengthen collaboration between institutions and private operators in Malta’s growing platform economy.