Food Delivery Blackout: riders stage protest against companies, govt

KUALA LUMPUR – Food delivery riders will stage the Food Delivery Blackout picket in the nation’s capital tomorrow.  

The picket is understood to be aimed at sending a clear message to e-hailing companies and the government regarding some of the demands made by the group. 

According to The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran, one of the demands from the picket included the current delivery rate, which is alleged to be lower than before.   

PKR Youth strategy director, Bryan Ng Yih Miin, said the group had also raised concerns over the uncontrolled number of food delivery riders available, which has created competition and resulted in a decrease in their income. 

“(The effect) is not small, but it is to the extent that they are said to be unable to cover the cost of living, especially with the current increase in the price of goods,” he told Getaran. 

Ng said the most important demand made is on the social security of the food delivery group, and this involves the contribution of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso).

He said the riders do not have a system for EPF and Socso contributions as they are considered contract workers and not employees, despite putting their lives at risk on the road every day. 

As of now, he added, the riders are only making EPF contributions at their own will. 

He also said there have been complaints over the “complicated and long” process for insurance claims and limited coverage, as well as “unreasonable” terms – for example, applications for claims for non-hospitalisation cases had to be filed in 24 hours.

“In Malaysia, we have one of the highest (road) accident rates in the world and when they (the riders) get involved in an accident, what happens is that they do not have insurance and medical coverage. And if they are unable to work, they will lose their source of income. 

“If they are unable to work for a long period of time, there is no compensation or protection that should be protected by Socso,” he said. 

He said, the UK supreme court had previously classified ride-hailing drivers as “workers” under several policies. 

He further explained that the initial policies did not allow employees to negotiate the rates. Instead, it was all decided by the e-hailing companies. 

“Secondly, the working hours are also fixed and they are long hours. When we say one session, there are some who work up to 12 hours or more. 

“Therefore, this is likened to working. That is why in the UK, it was decided that e-hailing drivers are workers,” he said, while stressing for the same policy to be observed in Malaysia. – The Vibes, August 4, 2022