FSPM Indonesia forms general tourism workers’ unions as a new way to rebuild strength

FSPM Indonesia forms general tourism workers’ unions as a new way to rebuild strength

FSPM 8th Congress in January 2023 passed a resolution to establish general tourism workers unions on International Workers Day

As agreed in their 8th Congress in January 2023, FSPM declared the establishment of its general individual-membership union, SPM Pariwisata (Independent Tourism Workers’ Union), in the eight regions where it has members. The eight regions are Semarang, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Lampung, Bandung, Surabaya, Labuan Bajo and Bali.

After losing up to 4,000 members across Indonesia in the last three years due to the pandemic and tourism crisis, FSPM explored new ways to organize more workers to rebuild their union strength.

FSPM decided to form SPM Pariwisata as a new structure to accommodate individual workers in the food services and hotel and tourism industry and meet their real need for a union to protect them in the worst situation. At the same time FSPM began crafting strategies for large-scale organizing. Even before this it was common for FSPM to receive inquiries from workers who have no union at their workplace asking if they can join FSPM. “But at that time we could not do much,” said Brother Galih Tri Panjalu, FSPM General Secretary.

Registration with the Department of Manpower

SPM Pariwisata Yogyakarta became the FSPM first individual-based, general union to be registered with the Department of Manpower on May 2. This was followed by SPM Pariwisata Semarang on May 8 and SPM Pariwisata Jakarta on May 19.

Brother Galih mentioned that it is quite difficult for workers in Indonesia to form a trade union because of the bad image of unions created in the eyes of workers and employers. The regulation in Indonesian law that requires a minimum of 10 people to form a union in a workplace also sometimes becomes an obstacle.

“This is the best platform for us when our rights as workers are undermined,” said Brother Muhamad Ikhsan, a local chain restaurant worker, during the meeting to establish the new union on May 15. He added that workers should be the ones to defend their rights.

When explaining the importance of joining a union and struggling collectively, Brother Rival Yunaldi, FSPM Organizer, said: “It’s sometimes even difficult for a union to protect workers rights, let alone workers who are expected to defend their rights by themselves.”

Fafin Lubis, a founding member of a general tourism workers union

At the founding meeting of the general tourism workers’ union, restaurant workers raised some issues on workers’ rights violations in the sector, such as the use of daily workers, part-time worker abuse and unpaid overtime. Brother Fafin Lubis, an Asisstant Manager in an international restaurant chain, explained his wish to create a “conducive, harmonious and prosperous” working environment by forming a union.

Organizing for the Future

Organizing SPM Pariwisata is a long term organizing effort. It is the first step that FSPM believes is important in providing a platform for workers who are interested in joining a union.

SPM Pariwisata in not limited to hotel and restaurant workers. FSPM is targeting more workers in other tourism businesses such as workers in tourism sites, tour guides, golf course workers and even food delivery riders. “We would like to organize to increase union membership from sectors that have not been properly organized all this time,” declared Brother Galih.

Discussion on organizing strategies for SPM Pariwisata

In terms of the development of organizing strategies, FSPM will conduct an education program for members of SPM Pariwisata to increase their capacity as union members. Members of SPM Pariwisata will be encouraged to then organize and form their own union at their workplaces as well.

“With the presence of individual-membership unions, it provides an opening for more and more workers to join the union. So, if something happens to workers, or they are faced with a difficult situation, they can at least get protection for their rights, welfare and job continuity,” observed Brother Galih.

ការងារគ្រោះថ្នាក់របស់អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងការស្លាប់យ៉ាងខ្លោចផ្សារបស់ Jasper Dalman

ការងារគ្រោះថ្នាក់របស់អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងការស្លាប់យ៉ាងខ្លោចផ្សារបស់ Jasper Dalman

Jasper Dalman អាយុ​ទើបតែ ១៩ ឆ្នាំប៉ុណ្ណោះ គឺជាអ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ​របស់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន ហ្វ៊ូត ផេនដា ​ក្នុងប្រទេសហ្វ៊ីលីពីន។ គេគឺជាអ្នកបើកបរក្នុងក្រុម​ដំបូងគេដែលបានបង្កើតទៅជា​សាខា​ Cagayan de Oro City សម្រាប់សហជីព United Riders of the Philippines (RIDERS-SENTRO-IUF)។

Jasper បានចូលរួមក្នុងកិច្ច​ខិតខំចងក្រងសហជីព The United Riders of the Philippines និងបានចូលរួមក្នុងវគ្គបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលសហជីព។ គេធ្វើកិច្ចការទាំងអស់នេះ ​ដោយសង្ឃឹមថានឹងអាចជួយលើកកម្ពស់ជីវភាព និង​សុខុមាលភាព​របស់អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងគ្រួសាររបស់ពួកគេ។

មានក្ដីរំភើបរីករាយពោរពេញដោយថាមពល​​យុវវ័យ ដោយប្រាថ្នាចង់បាន​ប្រាក់ឈ្នួលសមរម្យនៅទីបំផុត និង​អា​ចធ្វើការដោយសេចក្ដីថ្លៃថ្នូរ។ អ្វីដែល​សំខាន់​គឺសន្តិសុខ​ដែលបាន​មកពីសហជីព រួមទាំងការប្ដេជ្ញាចិត្តដើម្បីតស៊ូ​ទាមទារសិទ្ធិ​ទទួលបាន​ធានារ៉ាប់រងសុខភាពប្រកបដោយគុណភាព និងធានារ៉ាប់រង​ចំពោះគ្រោះថ្នាក់ចៃដន្យ​​។ មិនខុសពី​អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញរាប់លាននាក់ដទៃទៀត​ឡើយ កន្លែងធ្វើការរបស់​ Jasper គឺកង់ និងម៉ូតូរបស់គាត់​ក្នុងការបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងវិលមកពីកន្លែងបញ្ជូនទំនិញវិញ​។ ដើម្បីបំពេញកិច្ចការទាំងអស់​នេះប្រកបដោយសុវត្ថិភាព​មានន័យថា ​ក្រុមហ៊ុនទាំងឡាយ​ ដូចជាក្រុមហ៊ុន ហ្វ៊ូត ផេនដា ជាដើមចាំបាច់​​ត្រូវទទួលខុសត្រូវ និងទទួលស្គាល់​សិទ្ធិ​របស់​អ្នកបើកបរ​ក្នុងការទទួលបាន​កន្លែងការងារប្រកបដោយសុវត្ថិភាព។ ម្យ៉ាងទៀត​ ​ក៏មានន័យថា​ជាការបញ្ចប់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ដែលមានលក្ខណៈរំលោភបំពាន មានភាពតានតឹង និង​អសុវត្ថិភាព​ដែល​ធ្វើ​​ឱ្យ​អ្នកបើកបរ​ត្រូវប្រឈមហានិភ័យ​។

Jasper បានបាត់បង់ជីវិតនៅក្នុងគ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរណ៍​ដ៏រន្ធត់​មួយនៅក្នុងថ្ងៃទី ១៩​ ខែ កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ២០២៣ ពេលគេបំពេញការងារ​។ ការស្លាប់របស់​ Jasper គឺជាឧទាហរណ៍យ៉ាងខ្លោចផ្សា​បង្ហាញអំពីភាពងាយរងគ្រោះនៃអ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ។ អ្នកបើកបរត្រូវធ្វើការក្នុងស្ថានភាពប្រកបដោយគ្រោះថ្នាក់ជាខ្លាំង ពួកគេ​​ត្រូវស្ថិតនៅចន្លោះកណ្ដាល​រវាងបំណងប្រាថ្នាចង់បានចំណេញឥតឈប់ឈររបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុនបញ្ជូនទំនិញ (ដែលរឹតច្របាច់យកអ្វីៗគ្រប់យ៉ាងពីអ្នកបើកបរដោយប្រើប្រាស់កម្មវិធី​ (algorithm) និងថ្លៃសេវាដែលមិនយុត្តិធម៌) និងការទាមទារមិនសមហេតុផលរបស់អតិថិជនដែលចង់បានការ​បញ្ជូនទំនិញឆាប់រហ័ស។

បន្ថែមលើនេះ ក្រុមហ៊ុនបញ្ជូនទំនិញនានា ដូចជាក្រុមហ៊ុន ហ្វ៊ូត ផេនដា ជាដើមបដិសេធមិនផ្តល់ធានារ៉ាប់រងសុខភាព និងធានារ៉ាប់រងគ្រោះថ្នាក់ដល់អ្នកបើកបរឡើយ។ ធានារ៉ាប់រងទាំងនេះគឺចាំបាច់ណាស់សម្រាប់អ្នកបើកបរនៅក្នុង​កន្លែងការងាររបស់ខ្លួន។ អស់ពេលជាយូរមកហើយដែលអ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ ត្រូវរងរបួសក្នុងគ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរណ៍ ត្រូវបង្ខំចិត្តចេញថ្លៃ​ចំណាយវេជ្ជសាស្ត្រដោយខ្លួនឯង ឬត្រូវពឹងពាក់លើ​ការផ្តល់ឱ្យ ម្ដងម្កាល និងមិនអាចព្យាករណ៍ទុកជាមុនបានរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុនបញ្ជូនទំនិញ។ នៅក្នុងករណីការស្លាប់នៅកន្លែងធ្វើការងារបែបនេះ គ្រួសារទាំងឡាយ ដូចជាគ្រួសាររបស់ Jasper ជាដើម គឺអស់គ្មានសេសសល់អ្វីឡើយ។

យើងមិននិយាយថា Jasper មិនបានស្លាប់ដោយទទេៗ​នោះឡើយ ហើយសូមប្រែក្លាយការស្លាប់នេះ ទៅជា ការអំពាវនាវឱ្យមានធានារ៉ាប់រងប្រកបដោយគុណភាព និងការងារប្រកបដោយសុវត្ថិភាព។ យើងមិននិយាយថា​ ​យើងនឹង​បំពេញក្ដីប្រាថ្នារបស់គាត់ដើម្បីឱ្យមានការងារសមរម្យប្រកបដោយសេចក្ដីថ្លៃថ្នូរនោះឡើយ។ ប្រហែល​ជានៅពេលក្រោយ ពេលយើងនិយាយរំឭកវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ Jasper យើងអាចនិយាយបែបនេះបាន។ប៉ុន្តែសម្រាប់ពេលឥលូវនេះ ក្ដីទុក្ខសោករបស់យើងគឺធំធេងហួសប្រមាណ។

អ្វីដែលយើង​អាចនិយាយបានគឺថា យើងបានបាត់បង់ Jasper ទាំងក្មេងវ័យ​​ដោយសារតែស្ថាន​ភាពប្រកប​ដោយ​គ្រោះថ្នាក់បង្កឡើងដោយក្រុមហ៊ុនបញ្ជូនទំនិញ។ ការស្លាប់របស់គាត់ជាការ​ស្លាប់ដែលអាចបង្ការបាន ជាការស្លាប់ដែលអាចចៀសវាងបាន ការស្លាប់នេះមិនមែន​ជារឿងចៃដន្យឡើយ។ គាត់ត្រូវស្លាប់ដោយសារការងារមិនមានសុវត្ថិភាព។ យើងចាំបាច់​ត្រូវបញ្ឈប់ស្ថានភាពបែបនេះ កុំឱ្យកើតមានតទៅទៀត។

 

ការងារគ្រោះថ្នាក់របស់អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងការស្លាប់យ៉ាងខ្លោចផ្សារបស់ Jasper Dalman

สภาพการทำงานที่อันตราย ความตายของไรเดอร์ไม่ใช่อุบัติเหตุ อาลัยแจสเปอร์ ดาลแมน ไรเดอร์ฟิลิปปินส์

แจสเปอร์ ดาลแมน ไรเดอร์ฟู้ดแพนด้าในฟิลิปปินส์ วัย 19 ปี คือไรเดอร์คนแรกๆที่ก่อตั้งกลุ่มไรเดอร์ประจำเมืองคากายาน เด โอโร่ (Cagayan de Oro City) และไรเดอร์กลุ่มนี้เองคือจุดตั้งต้นของสหภาพไรเดอร์ประจำฟิลิปปินส์ในเวลาต่อมา (The United Riders of the Philippines) (ในความร่วมมือระหว่าง RIDERS-SENTRO-IUF)

แจสเปอร์ ร่วมจัดตั้งสหภาพไรเดอร์แห่งฟิลิปปินส์ และเข้าร่วมอบรมจัดตั้งสหภาพ ด้วยหวังว่าชีวิตความเป็นอยู่ของไรเดอร์และครอบครัวของไรเดอร์จะดีขึ้น

บรรยากาศงานอบรมสหภาพครั้งนั้น เต็มไปด้วยความตื่นเต้น พลังร้อนแรงของคนรุ่นใหม่ ประเด็นวันนั้นมีทั้งความหวังที่ไรเดอร์จะได้ค่าแรงเพิ่มและงานไรเดอร์มีศักดิ์ศรี

แต่ประเด็นที่เน้นย้ำกันมากที่สุดคือเรื่องความปลอดภัยของไรเดอร์ พวกเขาให้คำมั่นสัญญาระหว่างกันว่าจะต่อสู้ให้ได้ประกันสุขภาพและประกันอุบัติเหตุจากบริษัท

สำหรับแจสเปอร์ งานของเขาไม่ต่างไปจากไรเดอร์หลายล้านคนทั่วไป จักรยานและมอเตอร์ไซค์ คือที่ทำงานของไรเดอร์ คอยรับส่งผู้โดยสารและข้าวของอยู่ไม่หยุดหย่อน

เมื่อที่ทำงานคือพาหนะเคลื่อนที่ ที่ทำงานจะปลอดภัยได้ บริษัทอย่างฟู้ดแพนด้าต้อง
ทำให้ระบบการทำงานที่อันตราย เคร่งเครียด และเสี่ยงภัยหมดไป โดยรับผิดชอบและตระหนักถึงสิทธิของไรเดอร์ สิทธิในการทำงานอย่างปลอดภัย

อย่างไรก็ตาม 19 กุมภาพันธ์ที่ผ่านมา แจสเปอร์ประสบอุบัติเหตุเสียชีวิตระหว่างทำงาน

ความตายของแจสเปอร์แสดงให้เห็นความเปราะบางของงานไรเดอร์ ไรเดอร์ทำงานภายใต้สภาวะอันตราย และเสี่ยงภัยมาก ถูกกดดันจากบริษัทที่รีดนาทาเร้นไรเดอร์เพื่อผลกำไรของตนอย่างไม่หยุดหย่อน (โดยอาศัยระบบอัลกอริทึ่มและการจ่ายค่าแรงที่ไม่เป็นธรรม) ประกอบกับฝ่ายลูกค้าหรือผู้โดยสารที่มักจะเร่งรัดไรเดอร์อย่างไม่เห็นอกเห็นใจ
บริษัทเดลิเวอรี่อย่างฟู้ดแพนด้า ปฏิเสธที่จะให้สวัสดิการประกันสุขภาพและประกันอุบัติเหตุกับไรเดอร์ ประกันเหล่านี้สำคัญกับไรเดอร์อย่างยิ่ง

ที่ผ่านมาเมื่อไรเดอร์ได้รับบาดเจ็บขณะทำงาน พวกเขาต้องจ่ายค่ารักษาพยาบาลเอง หรือบางครั้งอาจได้รับเงินชดเชยจากบริษัทบ้าง แต่ก็เอาแน่เอานอนไม่ได้ และกรณีของแจสเปอร์ที่เสียชีวิตขณะทำงาน ครอบครัวของเขาไม่ได้รับการชดเชยใดใดแม้แต่น้อย

ณ ที่นี้ เราไม่ขอกล่าวว่า แจสเปอร์จะไม่ตายฟรี หรือเปลี่ยนความตายของแจสเปอร์เป็นการเรียกร้องประกันอุบัติเหตุที่มีคุณภาพ หรือสร้างงานที่ปลอดภัย เราขอไม่กล่าวว่า เราจะบรรลุความหวังของแจสเปอร์ที่จะทำให้งานไรเดอร์มีคุณค่า มีเกียรติ

ณ ที่นี้ ความโศกเศร้าของเราท่วมท้น
และคงเป็น ณ ที่อื่น ที่จะกล่าวถ้อยคำเช่นนั้น

ณ ที่นี้ เราพูดได้เพียงว่า เราสูญเสียแจสเปอร์ ดาลแมน คนรุ่นใหม่ที่มีพลังจากสภาพการทำงานที่อันตราย จากกติกาไม่เป็นธรรมที่บริษัทเดลิเวอร์เหล่านี้สร้างขึ้น

ความตายของแจสเปอร์ ไม่ใช่อุบัติเหตุ แต่เป็นเหตุที่ป้องกันได้ หลีกเลี่ยงได้ และอุบัติขึ้นเพราะงานที่ไม่ปลอดภัย และเราต้องไม่ให้เกิดขึ้นกับใครอีก

ការងារគ្រោះថ្នាក់របស់អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងការស្លាប់យ៉ាងខ្លោចផ្សារបស់ Jasper Dalman

Pekerjaan berbahaya para pengemudi pengantaran makanan dan kematian tragis Jasper Dalman

Di usianya yang baru 19 tahun, Jasper Dalman sudah menjadi pengemudi pengantaran makanan Food Panda di Filipina. Ia adalah salah satu pengemudi pertama yang membentuk The United Riders of the Philippines (RIDERS-SENTRO-IUF) cabang Cagayan de Oro City.

Jasper bergabung dalam upaya pengorganisiran The United Riders of the Philippines dan mengikuti pelatihan serikat pekerja. Ia melakukannya dengan harapan memperbaiki mata pencaharian dan kesejahteraan para pengemudi pengantaran dan keluarga mereka.

Ada kegembiraan – energi anak muda – dalam kemungkinan akan dibayar dengan layak dan bekerja dengan penuh martabat. Yang paling penting adalah keamanan yang akan diperjuangkan serikat, termasuk komitmen untuk memperjuangkan hak atas asuransi kesehatan dan asuransi kecelakaan yang berkualitas. Seperti jutaan pengemudi pengantaran lainnya, tempat kerja Jasper adalah sepeda dan sepeda motornya – melakukan pengantaran dan kembali dari pengantaran. Untuk dapat melakukan ini dengan aman, perusahaan seperti Food Panda harus bertanggung jawab dan mengakui hak-hak pengemudi atas tempat kerja yang aman. Ini juga berarti mengakhiri sistem yang kejam, penuh tekanan dan tidak aman yang membahayakan pengemudi.

Jasper tewas dalam kecelakaan lalu lintas yang mengerikan pada 19 Februari 2023, saat bekerja.

Kematian Jasper adalah contoh tragis dari kerentanan para pengemudi pengantaran. Pengemudi bekerja dalam kondisi yang sangat berbahaya – terjebak di antara dorongan tanpa henti dari perusahaan pengantaran untuk keuntungan (memeras segalanya dari pengemudi menggunakan alogaritme dan bayaran yang tidak adil) dan permintaan pelanggan yang tidak masuk akal untuk pengantaran yang cepat.

Ditambah lagi penolakan perusahaan pengataran seperti Food Panda untuk memberikan asuransi kesehatan dan asuransi kecelakaan. Ini adalah asuransi yang sangat penting bagi pengemudi di tempat kerja mereka. Sudah terlalu lama para pengemudi yang terlibat kecelakaan lalu lintas dipaksa untuk menanggung biaya medis mereka sendiri atau bergantung pada santunan perusahaan pengantaran yang sporadis dan tidak dapat diprediksi. Dan dalam kasus kematian di tempat kerja, keluarga Jasper tidak mendapatkan apa-apa.

Kami tidak akan mengatakan Jasper tidak meninggal sia-sia dan akan menyerukan asuransi yang berkualitas dan pekerjaan yang aman. Kami tidak akan mengatakan bahwa kami akan memenuhi aspirasinya untuk pekerjaan yang layak dan bermartabat. Mungkin nanti sebagai penghormatan untuk Jasper kami bisa mempertimbangkan untuk mengatakan hal seperti itu. Untuk saat ini, kami masih sangat berduka.

Yang bisa kami katakan adalah kami sangat kehilangan Jasper akibat kondisi berbahaya yang disebabkan oleh perusahaan pengantaran. Kematiannya bisa dicegah, bisa dihindari, dan itu bukanlah suatu kecelakaan. Ia dibunuh oleh tempat kerja yang tidak aman. Dan kita harus menghentikan ini.

ការងារគ្រោះថ្នាក់របស់អ្នកបើកបរបញ្ជូនទំនិញ និងការស្លាប់យ៉ាងខ្លោចផ្សារបស់ Jasper Dalman

The hazardous work of delivery riders and the tragic death of Jasper Dalman

At just 19 years of age, Jasper Dalman was a Panda Food delivery rider in the Philippines. He was among the first riders to form the Cagayan de Oro City chapter of The United Riders of the Philippines (RIDERS-SENTRO-IUF).

Jasper joined the organizing effort of the The United Riders of the Philippines and attended union training. He did so in the hope of improving the livelihoods and wellbeing of delivery riders and their families.

There was an excitement – a youthful energy – in the prospect of finally being paid decently and to work with dignity. Most of all it was the security that the union would bring, including the commitment to fight for the right to quality health insurance and accident insurance. Like millions of delivery riders, Jasper’s workplace was his bicycle and motorcycle – making deliveries and returning from deliveries. To do this safely means that companies like Food Panda have to take responsibility and recognize riders’ rights to a safe workplace. It also means bringing an end to the abusive, stressful, unsafe systems that put riders at risk.

Jasper died in a horrific traffic incident on February 19, 2023, while working.

Jasper’s death is a tragic demonstration of the vulnerability of delivery riders. Riders work in extremely hazardous conditions – caught between delivery companies’ relentless drive for profits (squeezing everything out of riders using algorithms and unfair fees) and customers’ unreasonable demands for speedy delivery.

Added to this is the refusal of delivery companies like Food Panda to provide health insurance and accident insurance. This is insurance essential to riders in their workplace. For too long delivery riders injured in traffic incidents have been forced to cover their own medical costs or rely on the sporadic and unpredictable handouts of delivery companies. And in the case of deaths at work, families like Jasper’s are left with nothing.

We will not say that Jasper didn’t die for nothing and turn this into a call for quality insurance and safe work. We will not say that we will fulfill his aspirations for decent work with dignity. Maybe later in a tribute to Jasper we can consider saying such things. For now our grief is just too overwhelming.

All we will say is that we have lost young Jasper to the hazardous conditions imposed by delivery companies. His death was preventable, it was avoidable, it was not an accident. He was killed by unsafe work. And we must stop this.

Is this the future of work? Grab Philippines terminates delivery riders to silence concerns about insecurity and abuse

Is this the future of work? Grab Philippines terminates delivery riders to silence concerns about insecurity and abuse

With all the talk about “the future of work”, there is no doubt that tens of millions digital platform workers will be a vital part of that future. But will they have the fundamental human rights and freedoms that all workers are entitled to? Grab Philippines seems to think the answer is, No.

In response to a peaceful rally organized by the United Riders of the Philippines – Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa – International Union of Food (RIDERS – SENTRO – IUF) in Pampanga, Grab Philippines summarily terminated two riders, Mark Larson Vallejo and Mary Rose Cenidoza.

The rally was one of many peaceful rallies organized by RIDERS – SENTRO – IUF across the Philippines to draw attention to the insecurity, unfair treatment and lack of protection faced by delivery riders.

Instead of responding to these concerns by engaging with the union, Grab Philippines management (not the algorithm) decided to terminate Vallejo and Cenidoza as punishment for speaking out. But the action by Grab Philippines proved the point: delivered riders are vulnerable to unfair, arbitrary punishment, and have no job protection.

This cannot become the future of work, where digital platforms earning billions claim they are creating jobs and improving livelihoods, while passing all the risk to workers through harsh working conditions, unbearable stress, and irregular and unstable incomes. In fact this fear and insecurity – and not artificial intelligence or algorithms – seem to be the primary management tool for these digital platform companies.

RIDERS – SENTRO – IUF was formed by delivery riders in the Philippines to fight against such a future and to make these essential jobs safe, secure and decently paid. If Grab Philippines is to have any kind of future it must reinstate Vallejo and Cenidoza, listen to the concerns raised in these peaceful rallies, and talk to the union. Only then will there be a possibility that the future of work for tens of millions of digital platform workers will be decent work.

 

RIDERS – SENTRO – IUF Statement Calling for the Reinstatement of Mark Larson Vallejo and Mary Rose Cenidoza

Support Your Riders, Not Punish Them:

The freedom of speech and expression is one of the most important values in any society.  All Filipinos have the right to speak up against abuse, injustice, and unfairness without any fear of retaliation, including the termination of employment. In fact, companies that would rather harass and terminate their workers for speaking up for their needs and concerns than address these demonstrates their disregard for the wellbeing of their employees, the very same people that they praise as essential partners and part of their corporate families.

The United Riders of the Philippines – Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa – International Union of Food (RIDERS – SENTRO – IUF) condemns grabs brazen and groundless termination of Mark Larson Vallejo and Mary Rose Cenidoza both delivery riders of Grab Philippines in Pampanga. Their termination, based only on the vague insinuation of “violating” Grab’s Code of Conduct via text, even committing a “fraud-related issue” according to the Grab app is simply an act of intimidation.

Clearly, the termination was done purely to punish Vallejo and Cenidoza for standing up for their fellow riders and demanding just protection and support for the vital work that they do for Grab and the thousands that rely on the platform’s services.

RIDERS – SENTRO – IUF demands the immediate reinstatement of Vallejo, Cenidoza and the end to Grab management’s harassment of its workers. If Grab is serious in its commitment both to provide quality services to its patrons, and the safeguarding of its riders, then the company must prove this in practice – support your riders, not punish them.