After hundreds of Grab delivery riders held a protest along Tomas Morato, Quezon City last October 19, there are reports that a nationwide protest might happen on October 25.
Searching “Grab Tigil Pasada” on Facebook reveals that several Grab riders are pushing for a Nationwide Protest on October 25 of the ride-hailing company’s alleged unfair labor practices.
According to a post by the National Union of Food Delivery Riders, the protest is due to alleged plans to reduce delivery fares by Php 10. In their protest, the National Union of Food Delivery Riders explained that the new fare matrix will greatly reduce the “already meager earnings” of all Grab delivery riders.
The protesting delivery riders also want to refute claims that Grab is facing financial difficulties, claiming that the ride-hailing company can afford to get endorsers. To recall, Grab’s headquarters in Singapore laid off over 1,100 employees last June 2023 in its push to adapt to changes in the industry.
Aside from not being consulted about the new fare matrix, protesters accused Grab of not providing adequate health insurance to its delivery riders.
Grab Philippines has reached out to us, and gave this statement regarding the complaints of delivery riders regarding the new fare matrix:
We are aware of the concerns raised by some of our delivery partners following the recent restructuring of the earnings model. Our primary goal has always been to create a fair and sustainable environment, where partners are compensated for their efforts, especially considering the current macroeconomic changes. The new model was designed with the intention of addressing long-standing concerns about compensation for pick-up efforts and extended wait times, while also providing a guaranteed minimum fare to protect our partners’ earnings.
Additionally, we are committed to ensuring that all our delivery-partners on the platform continue to earn substantially above the minimum wage. To date, Grab’s current earning model provides the most competitive earning potential for its partners as compared to that offered by other delivery platforms.
We remain committed to an open dialogue and are dedicated to understanding and addressing our delivery partners’ concerns. To that end, we are open to constructive discussions with representatives of our delivery partners to hear their feedback and collaboratively work on practical solutions that serve the best interests of our entire Grab community. Our platform thrives on the welfare of all our stakeholders, and we are steadfast in our resolve to navigate these challenges together.
