Labor committee addresses concerns of food delivery riders

Fare matrix, insurance, and healthcare packages were the main concerns of a group of delivery riders deployed in the city, in a meeting with the City Council Committee on Labor and Employment chaired by Councilor Jose Pepe S. Abbu, Jr.

This was an offshoot to the special report of Councilor Malvern A. Esparcia during the regular session a few weeks ago where he reiterated the concerns of delivery riders, specifically Food Panda riders, that a food delivery hub should be established in the city.

“Wala silang opisina na gusto nila puntahan to appeal”, he stressed.

During the committee meeting, Ruben Mariano, a representative of Food Panda, said the company has an online generating system with dispatchers based in Malaysia and where riders may reach out to raise their concerns.

In response to the query of Councilor Abbu on hiring riders, Mariano said training materials are offered when completing accreditation to become a rider. He said they can also reach out to its official Facebook page for some concerns.

During the pandemic, Food Panda expanded its delivery offices nationwide but had to close the same since the company has already employed a centralized system.

For her part, Catherine Bagayna of GRAB said that it has a hub located in Barangay Carmen, as well as a Help Center in the online app, where issues and concerns of food delivery riders, including GRAB taxi drivers, may be aired out.

Since the corporations are saying that their “help centers” are merely online platforms, Antonio Resma of the City Legal Office emphasized that the city will look into the employment status of the food apps and advised against downplaying the role of riders as legitimate workers.

BENEFITS, INSURANCE OFFERED

In the absence of an employer-employee relationship, GRAB company offered benefits and insurance to riders such as care packages that cater to burial, hospitalization, and calamity assistance, as well as educational assistance. Grab also partnered with Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System (SSS), and Philhealth to enhance their benefits and insurance package.

Food Panda also offers insurance to its riders. The company is currently reviewing a new insurance scheme that might include a wider coverage for riders. On social protection programs, they are coordinating with government agencies to facilitate riders for registration as individual members of Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, and SSS.

Councilor Abbu thanked the representatives of food delivery companies for addressing the issue. He expressed hope that all concerns will be resolved, soon. Councilors Yvy Emano and Aga Suan were also present during the meeting.