Social media sees divided takes, taunts on Food Delivery Blackout

KUALA LUMPUR – The Food Delivery Blackout held yesterday saw colourful arguments and exchanges among delivery riders at odds over the plan, even as an apparently sizable number seemed to cooperate or comply with the subtle strike against allegedly poor terms offered by their employers.

The mass campaign to abstain from work for a day led to traffic on the streets of the Klang Valley, where the protest was focused, being visibly devoid of the usual darting-about of food delivery vehicles.

Some riders ridiculed the decision made by others in the fraternity to not participate in the strike. Others ardently defended those who made the choice to continue working, arguing that they may have families to support or other obligations to fulfil.

Users in a Facebook group called “Grabfood Rider Community Malaysia” mockingly claimed that the protest allowed those who went ahead with their delivery tasks to “cedok” (scoop) more orders from the pool of available requests.

“I want to thank the riders who went on protest yesterday,” a user with the name “Rumah Murah Johor” said.

“I hope you protest again today and on another day. Because of you, we gained more jobs and a bonus order,” remarked the user.

Another user known as Zaff Zafrul expressed his belief that such protests are unnecessary. Instead, he said, those dissatisfied riders should focus on other full-time jobs for better earnings.

Meanwhile, several posts on Twitter argued that the one-day action was insufficient to achieve the desired results.

Arif Zakwan remarked in a post: “I happened to see a Grab rider delivering the order yesterday; he might be in a dilemma as he would have gotten no income if the rider joined the protest.” 

In light of the attention garnered by the protest, the prime minister’s political secretary Khaizulnizam Mohamad Zuldin announced yesterday that Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong will meet representatives of p- and e-hailing riders and drivers over their grouses on Monday.

It is hoped the meeting will achieve a win-win situation for drivers, riders, consumers, and vendors, Khaizulnizam told a press conference yesterday.

Among other things, the protest demanded food delivery companies re-evaluate the fares paid depending on the delivery distance, bring back bonuses, and allow riders to cancel orders without being suspended.

The abolition of the cash system was also demanded as many riders “suffered due to prank orders”.

They also objected to the uncontrolled number of food delivery riders available, which has created competition and resulted in a decrease in their income.

The most important demand made was that they should be accorded social security benefits, specifically of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation.

On Thursday, Food Delivery Blackout called on delivery riders to gather at Grab Malaysia headquarters, saying it was aimed at sending a clear message to e-hailing companies and the government regarding some of the demands made by the group.

Grab Malaysia has since denied reducing base fares for its delivery riders, saying that a recent complaint raised by a delivery partner about discrepancies in his earnings was due to a glitch in its system.

It said that it has provided on-the-job protection with free personal accident coverage and a partnership with EPF to ease contribution and up to 10% additional incentives for eligible recipients.

“We are also assisting our partners to save on their operational expenses (such as discounts on petrol, vehicle maintenance, daily necessities, and more),” it said. “Additionally, we also introduced multiple promotions and campaigns such as our recently launched GrabUnlimited to help our partners.”

PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abd Halim urged the government to step in and address the grouses of delivery riders, whom he noted are not protected under the Employment Act 1955 despite carrying out their jobs in a master-servant concept.

Anchoring the protest was Mohd Firdaus Abdul Hamid, who passed the memorandum to Grab’s management yesterday. – The Vibes, August 6, 2022