Probe sought on ‘labor abuses’ against delivery riders

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros has urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to formally investigate and act on reported incidents of “labor abuses” experienced by food delivery riders.

Hontiveros made the call after a food delivery app suspended at least 500 accredited riders in Davao City after they participated in a unity ride supporting other riders who were suspended and denied access to the mobile app for 10 years.

“I call on the DOLE to act immediately on the grievances of our delivery riders who are experiencing harassment by mobile app operators. Every day that they are suspended is equivalent to one day that they have no income to take home to their family,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.

Hontiveros said the group is also complaining about the recent fare adjustment which significantly decreased their earnings to as low as P20 per ride.

Hontiveros said that DOLE should swiftly mediate and look into the working conditions of the Davao City food delivery riders, not just to avoid interruptions in the service but, more importantly, to install safeguards to ensure the protection of food delivery riders as they are also “workers.”

“Although delivery riders are not considered employees today, they are workers who work and help not only their families, but also the economy. As long as the DOLE does not issue guidelines or they do not intervene, nothing will happen,” Hontiveros stated.

“Failure to act on such grievances is negligence on the part of the government. We cannot just wait while we know that there is possible abuse going on in our workforce, in the midst of a pandemic,” she added.

Earlier, Hontiveros also called on DOLE to issue guidelines and labor standards that will better protect and promote the welfare of delivery riders.

The senator also filed a resolution seeking an investigation on the working conditions in the so-called “gig economy,” which includes delivery riders, to address labor issues surrounding the emerging sector.

“A very important point of our resolution is, given recent changes in the way people work, perhaps we should make sure our labor laws protect all workers and not just those regularly employed,” she said.

“I hope that any worker who sacrifices and takes action for their family, regardless of his employment status, will be given dignity at work,” Hontiveros said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, called on his colleagues to support the Freelancer Protection Act which he endorsed for plenary deliberations in September last year.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic altering the business landscape and displacing millions of workers, some have turned to freelancing to make ends meet and provide for their families,” Villanueva explained.