GWU: Wolt Couriers’ Commission-Based Pay ‘Illegal’ as Riders Protest Pay Cuts

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:

• A basic wage irrespective of deliveries completed
• A 40-hour work week
• Overtime pay beyond 40 hours
• No deductions for fuel, mobile data, or other work-related costs
• Bank transfer payments only, eliminating cash wages

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.