Lack of enforcement puts lives at risk, warns eCabs CEO

“A recent case of a cab driver caught drunk on duty was a close call – and a stark reminder that without proper enforcement, it is only a matter of time before lives are lost.”

That is the powerful warning from eCabs Technologies CEO and Founder Matthew Bezzina, as a series of sweeping reforms were for the country’s taxi and ride-hailing sector.

For Mr Bezzina, who has led eCabs since it launched Malta’s ride-hailing sector in 2010, described the reforms as long overdue. He said that in the fifteen years that eCabs has been operating, the company has seen it all: “Innovation, growth, but also loopholes and risks that have undermined safety and fairness. Regulation must now catch up.”

Among the key measures now on the table are:

• A ban on cash payments, closing loopholes that enable underreporting and tax evasion.
• Strict limits on driver working hours, with Transport Malta gaining new powers to track and regulate drivers across platforms.
• The phasing out of the exploitative “50/50” rent-sharing model, which pushes drivers into excessively long shifts.
• Stricter compliance rules and far higher platform fees, ensuring both operators and fleets contribute fairly.

Mr Bezzina stressed that the upcoming reforms are about more than just improving safety. He argued that cash transactions within the ride-hailing industry create opportunities for tax evasion and money laundering, posing serious risks to the sector’s integrity.

“The phase-out of cash is therefore not just a regulatory matter but a cornerstone of financial transparency,” he said.

The changes come as Malta records around 55,000 cab trips each day, with more than one-third still reportedly paid in cash. Authorities argue that phasing out cash will improve transparency, curb exploitation and dismantle harmful business models that disadvantage drivers.

Platforms such as Bolt, Uber, and eCabs will also face sharply higher licensing fees, rising from just €200 annually to as much as €320,000 depending on ride volume. Other measures include facial recognition requirements to verify drivers, congestion fees for high-mileage vehicles and revised parking penalties.

Last week, this newsroom asked Transport Malta about the 50:50 revenue-sharing model, the regulation of Y-plate drivers’ working hours and the authority’s tools and enforcement powers to safeguard passengers. As of today, these questions remain unanswered.

Although Malta is a small market, Mr Bezzina emphasised that the reforms carry lessons far beyond the island.

“Europe’s mobility sector must choose between a regulated, professional future or a continued race to the bottom,” he concluded.