Cab lobby says government must ‘acknowledge problem’ after Y-Plate crackdown
Government urged to act earlier as transport minister reveals almost 300 cab drivers were stopped in past month
The cabs lobby has pointed the finger at the government, urging it to “acknowledge the problem created by its own doing”, a day after the transport minister revealed that almost 300 Y-Plate drivers had been stopped from working in the past month.
The Light Passenger Operators Association (LPOA) on Saturday insisted that effective enforcement “must be implemented consistently and proactively, not only when situations spiral out of control”.
“Enforcement should not be reactive; it should be timely, fair, and preventative.”
On Friday, Chris Bonett posted a video on social media in which he revealed that 297 Y-Plate drivers had been stopped from working by Transport Malta during the past month after they were found to be in breach of regulations.
Transport Malta also blocked 20 operators from booking platforms as they were not compliant with regulations.
“We will not allow the abuse to continue,” Bonett said.
Rules for Third Country Nationals (TCNs) working as cab drivers in Malta have become significantly stricter. Since July 2023, non-EU nationals must hold a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state to obtain or renew a Transport Malta tag for Y-Plate cars.
The stricter rules were intended to manage market saturation.
In January last year, almost a fifth of Y-Plate cabs were ordered off the roads in a major government clampdown aimed at curbing irregular on-street parking. The law obliges all cabs to be garaged at night or when not in use.
In June, the transport ministry said it was planning to begin enforcing rules that limit the number of hours a Y-Plate driver can work at any one time, amid concerns that drivers were spending up to 16 hours behind the wheel, potentially posing a road safety risk. The legislation was expected to be introduced in autumn last year.
Reacting to the news, the association blamed the government for the problem, saying action was “delayed for too long” and that only “limited interventions are possible”, leading to “significant damage to the sector”.
They warned the sector “has been allowed to deteriorate” and the burden of that deterioration has fallen “heavily” on local workers and operators “who have always abided by laws and regulations, and contributed honestly and responsibly”.
“The facts are clear, and the warning signs have been visible for a long time,” the LPOA said.
“What is needed now is honesty, accountability, and a genuine commitment from government to acknowledge the problem created by its own doing.”