Uber has been given a two-week ultimatum by Transport Malta to regularise its position in light of the new Y-plate sector reform.    

Transport Malta CEO Leonid McKay tells WhosWho.mt that Uber cooperated constructively during a recent meeting and presented a clear timeline of how it would meet all legal requirements within the prescribed timeframe.

However, he said he made it “unequivocally clear” to the platform that the 14-day period is final, after which further enforcement will be taken, including the possible suspension of operations.

As part of the new rules, booking platforms are obliged to give self-employed drivers visibility on their trip fares and destinations before deciding whether to accept a ride request.

Platforms are also obliged to implement facial recognition technology to verify driver identities and drivers are banned from working more than 12 hours a day.

Mr McKay pointed out that the original legal notice was published at the end of May, giving the industry a two-month transition period ahead of the implementation date on 29th July.

“During this transition period, Transport Malta held several meetings with all ride-hailing platforms, including Uber,” he said.

"The Authority provided all the necessary guidance and information to ensure that the required technical and operational systems would be in place by the implementation date.”

However, he said that on the morning of 29th July, Uber informed Transport Malta that it had not fully implemented the required changes.

Since its system wasn’t yet compliant with the new legal requirement to provide visibility to self-employed drivers, Uber suspended the affected drivers to avoid operating in breach of the law.

It also failed to implement its new driver facial recognition requirements.

On the same day, Transport Malta issued a formal legal notice outlining the identified breaches and instances of non-compliance.

Mr McKay said that following a meeting between Transport Malta and Uber representatives, he issued a suspension notice that granted the company a maximum 14-day period to regularise its position.

“During the meeting, Uber cooperated constructively and presented a clear implementation timeline outlining how it would meet all legal requirements within the prescribed timeframe,” he said.

“Uber also proposed that the self-employed drivers and operators who had been removed from the platform be reactivated. This proposal was accepted by both Transport Malta and the Minister for Sustainable Mobility Dr Chris Bonett, as an interim measure while the technical changes are completed.”

“It was made unequivocally clear by the CEO of Transport Malta that the 14-day period is final. Failure to achieve full compliance within the agreed timeframe will result in further enforcement action, including the suspension of operations where necessary.”

Mr McKay said the reform is about ensuring a level playing field across the Y-plate sector while strengthening passenger safety, transparency and consumer protection.

“Transport Malta will continue to work constructively with operators that demonstrate a genuine commitment to comply, but it will also enforce the law firmly and consistently where compliance is not achieved,” he said.

Sebastian Ripard, CEO of Uber’s Maltese partner Ride & Eats, told WhosWho.mt last week that Uber is confident it can bring itself in line with the new requirements within the established timeframe.

Mr McKay is no stranger to launching regulatory measures within the cab industry.

During his brief six-month stint as JobsPlus CEO in 2024, he suspended new work permits for third-country nationals who applied to work as cab drivers and food delivery couriers.

This followed an internal study which found that the labour market for these two jobs had reached saturation point.

Mr McKay was appointed CEO of Transport Malta last June following a two-year stint as CEO of the Labour Party.