Kevin Abela, Section Secretary for Food and Hospitality at the GWU, weighs in on the current strike
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GWU: Wolt Couriers’ Commission-Based Pay ‘Illegal’ as
Riders Protest Pay Cuts
The General Workers’ Union (GWU) has criticised the
commission-based payment system used by food delivery platforms such as Wolt,
calling it “illegal in itself.” The statement comes amid a strike by
delivery riders protesting pay cuts that they say have made their work
unsustainable.
Speaking to BusinessNow.mt, Kevin Abela,
Section Secretary for Food and Hospitality at the GWU, said that while the
couriers’ frustration is understandable, the problem goes deeper than the
recent reduction in earnings.
“The fact that many couriers are still being paid on
commission is in itself illegal,” Mr Abela said. “They should be earning a
basic wage, regardless of the value or number of orders delivered.”
He confirmed that several couriers had approached the GWU
for help following changes to Wolt’s payment structure. Discussions were held
with representatives of the association, who, after consulting with Wolt,
insisted that average earnings per hour or per day had not significantly
changed.
However, Mr Abela reiterated that “this method of compensation should not
continue.”
He explained that the GWU’s Food and Hospitality Section is
negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the couriers’
association to grant these workers full employee status and the rights
that come with it. The upcoming MOU will also pave the way for collective
agreements between the GWU and individual operators, ensuring couriers
receive:
Migrant Workers Voice Concern Over Delivery Sector
Conditions
Nazmul Istiak, a representative of Malta’s migrant
workers’ community, said that the situation in the delivery sector has
reached a worrying point.
“Nearly 30–40% of Malta’s food and hospitality businesses
depend on delivery services,” he said. “When couriers are not paid an
appropriate salary or cannot earn enough from deliveries, it directly threatens
both their livelihood and the stability of the food business sector.”
Mr Istiak added that most delivery riders are on full-time
contracts with fleet operators, but in reality, their earnings resemble
those of self-employed workers.
“Courier drivers are in a kind of limbo,” he explained.
“Fleet operators are not paying the contracted salary — instead, income depends
on the number of deliveries made. This system leaves many workers financially
insecure, despite being on paper full-time employees.”
The GWU’s intervention and the growing frustration among migrant delivery workers highlight the urgent need for clear regulation and enforcement of fair employment standards in Malta’s rapidly expanding gig economy.
The Government has previously announced plans to formalise courier employment conditions through unionisation and collective agreements, aiming to prevent abuse and ensure a sustainable model for both workers and employers.
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