The United Delivery Riders of the Philippines (RIDERS) is intensifying its campaign to assert the rights of food delivery riders. The wage theft campaign, launched in 2023, challenges platform companies’ narrative that delivery riders are not their employees. Under the guise of partnership agreements, companies avoid their responsibility to provide benefits, insurance, and other forms of social protection for riders – benefits that should be part of their income.
RIDERS chapters across the Philippines have launched the campaign in their respective areas, filing formal complaints against food delivery companies like Grab and Foodpanda. Begin with the RIDERS-Pampanga chapter, the campaign has now been adopted by 10 other chapters. Each of the chapter is working to consolidate members and riders in their area, educating and preparing them to win the fight for a fairer working condition.
During the campaign launch, riders took to the streets, riding around the city to announce their stance and demands. Messages like “complete delivery, means complete income” and “platform companies call us partners, but they rob us” echoed throughout the city in support of the campaign.
Preparation meeting before launch of campaign
Members are holding unity ride during the campaign launching in Tarlac
Food delivery riders are winning and claiming their rights
The determination of unionized riders is paying off as more and more riders become aware of their rights and join the union. The first win of RIDERS-Cebu chapter in October 2024 is followed by several other chapters now, proving the existence of employee-employer relationship and riders’ entitlement to benefits, including the 13th month pay, holiday pay and service incentive leave. Furthermore, the decisions also order that food delivery company to return the diminished income of their riders.
As the union expands, an increasing number of riders are coming together to seek justice.
“Our work, our money, stop wage theft!” said Sister Evangelyn Asiddao, the National Secretary of RIDERS.
Union members are counting monetary award from their diminished income
IUF Asia/Pacific affirms commitment to combat wage theft in the food services sector
At the IUF Asia/Pacific Regional Food Services Workers’ Meeting in Bangkok this June, the region’s priority to fight all forms of wage theft in the sector was reaffirmed. During the meeting, various forms of wage theft and experiences of affiliates were discussed and shared.
From RIDERS, we learned that wage theft occurs when companies withhold workers’ benefit, fail to pay the compensation that they are owed or reduce income and incentives without the consent of affected workers. In some cases, the tips that are meant for delivery riders are also even stolen!
As Brother Lemm Cabantog, the National President of RIDERS, once stated: “Delivery fees are for the delivery riders who solely work for it, don’t take it from them!”
