Bolt Holds First Driver Forum in Bratislava to Address Partner Concerns

Ride-hailing platform Bolt brought together 20 of its partner drivers from across Slovakia in Bratislava last week for the company's first Driver Forum, an event designed to open a direct dialogue between the company and the people who work on its platform. Drivers discussed a range of issues central to their daily work, including earnings, safety, and the terms of their cooperation with Bolt. The forum marks a notable step toward structured engagement between the app-based transport company and its driver partners, who operate as independent contractors rather than employees. Bolt, an Estonian-founded competitor to Uber operating across Europe and Africa, has expanded significantly in Slovak cities in recent years. The event reflects growing attention to the working conditions and concerns of gig economy workers — people who earn income through digital platforms without traditional employment contracts — as debates about their status and rights intensify across the European Union.