Delivery riders unite for benefits

CEBU, Philippines —  Delivery drivers in Cebu have started organizing themselves so they can demand benefits as provided for under the labor laws which do not have under present condition.

There are more than 60,000 delivery drivers in Cebu but Partido Manggagawa-Cebu spokesman Dennis Derige said they are targeting at least 1,000 members to form the group, Kapatiran ng Dalawang Gulong-Cebu.

“We are slowly organizing them. It’s about time nga atong tabangan ni nga sektor,” said Derige.

Associated Labor Unions spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said delivery riders have to organize themselves either as a union, association or cooperative.

“We are seeing a trend that riders will be subjected to abuse and vulnerable to abuse when it comes to working conditions,” Tanjusay said.

He said that no specific labor policy regulations and safety nets for gig workers like the delivery riders since this industry is just emerging.

These delivery riders are working for online sellers through different subcontractors and passenger ridesharing riders.

Earlier, hundreds of delivery motorcycle riders under Sakay Transport Cooperative in Manila expressed dismay at giant online sellers and their contractors for delayed salary, unpaid incentives and benefits and non-payment of accident insurance.

Around 600 delivery riders who are members of this cooperative, according to ALU, are set to file several labor complaints before the Department of Labor and Employment against these companies over non-payment of salary and benefits since October 2020. — GMR (FREEMAN)