The riders and the management of Foodpanda have reportedly reached an agreement after the food delivery app suspended many of them for protesting against the wage policy.
According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, he took immediate action after the problem came to him last week.
“Agad-agad pina-inspeksiyunan ko po yung Foodpanda sa Davao. Ang feedback sa akin, mukhang nagkaayusan na except for some few riders,” said Bello.
Bello said the DOLE and the management of the food delivery app are scheduled to hold a Zoom meeting. Bello also ordered a consultation with the unregulated riders.
“I think majority bumalik na sa trabaho as early as Friday,” he said.
It will be recalled that when Foodpanda suspended some of its riders in Davao City on Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the DOLE to immediately conduct an investigation into the alleged labor abuses experienced by the riders.
Suspended riders and Foodpanda settle – Bello
“Nananawagan ako sa DOLE na aksyunan agad ang hinaing ng ating delivery riders na nakararanas ng panggigipit sa mobile app operators. Bawat araw na sila ay nababalahaw ay katumbas ng isang araw na wala silang maiuuwing kita sa kanilang pamilya,” said Hontiveros.
In her statement, the senator also said that the DOLE should look into the working conditions of Davao City Foodpanda riders to put in place safeguards that will ensure the protection of riders as “workers.”
“Hindi man itinuturing sa ngayon na empleyado ang mga delivery riders, sila ay mga manggagawa na naghahanapbuhay at tumutulong hindi lang sa kanilang pamilya kundi sa ekonomiya. Hangga’t walang inilalabas na guidelines ang DOLE o hindi sila namamagitan ay walang mangyayari,” said Hontiveros.
According to Bello, such a business is new, unlike many employers and employee relationships.
“This is a very novel na negosyo hindi kagaya ng nakakarami merong employer at saka employee. Dito meron yung customer, merong yung restaurant kung saan galing yung pagkain, then Food Panda, and then the 4th is the rider. So bagong business relation kaya pinag-aaralan natin,” he said.
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