Uber is now fully compliant with Malta’s new Y-plate legislation after implementing the changes required by Transport Malta.

The new rules came into force on 29th July and introduced a number of changes for Malta’s cab sector.

Among them, booking platforms must give self-employed drivers visibility of a trip’s destination and estimated fare before they decide whether to accept it, while facial recognition safeguards are required to verify drivers’ identities.

Drivers are also banned from working more than 12 hours a day.

However, Uber informed Transport Malta on the morning the reform came into force that it had not yet fully implemented the necessary changes and suspended affected self-employed drivers from its platform.

Transport Malta subsequently granted Uber a maximum 14-day period to bring itself into compliance, warning that its operational license could be suspended if it failed to comply in time.

Transport Malta CEO Leonid McKay confirmed with WhosWho.mt that Uber has since addressed the identified issues and regularised its position.

“The required technical and operational changes have been implemented, including the requirements relating to the display of the trip destination and estimated fare prior to acceptance, as well as the facial recognition safeguards,” Mr McKay said.

“Accordingly, Uber is now compliant with the applicable Y-Plate legislation and is operating in line with the requirements introduced by the reform.”

“Transport Malta will, as with all operators, continue to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis.”