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PROBE ON WORK CONDITIONS OF DELIVERY RIDERS URGED

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution calling for an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the working conditions in the so-called “gig-economy” or temporary or part-time employment.

Hontiveros hopes to address reports of unfair working conditions among delivery riders, motorcycle taxi riders, Grab car drivers, and other freelancers, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Proposed Senate Resolution (PSR) No. 732 seeks to probe into the employment benefits and other forms of social protection of workers in the emerging gig economy.

“Kaakibat ng tumataas na demand sa part-time at temporary jobs ay ang paglaganap ng kawalan o kakulangan ng benepisyo,” the veteran legislator said.

As lawmakers, we should craft measures that will better protect our gig economy workers.”

“There are also countless reports of unstable working conditions. Ang iba sa kanila, hindi rin itinuturing na empleyado. As lawmakers, we should look into these and craft measures that will better protect our gig economy workers,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.

The resolution defined gig economy as new technology-enabled forms of work, often temporary and flexible, utilized by companies that rely primarily on independent contractors and freelancers.

While the country ranked 6th in the world as the fastest-growing market for the gig economy, workers have been sounding the alarm on the lack of stability, low pay, limited opportunity in the sector, and technology replacing many of the routine jobs for workers.

One of the major issues the resolution seeks to tackle is the practice of classifying gig economy workers as independent contractors, and not employees. Hence, they are currently not entitled to healthcare benefits, 13th-month pay, retirement pay, leave credits, days-off, and other forms of basic labor rights found in the Labor Code.

“Without laws that regulate and define the rights of our gig economy workers, they will certainly, be exposed to abuse and exploitation,” the lady senator said.

“Hindi dapat mangyari na ang lifeline ng rumaraket nating mga kababayan ay hindi pala makakapagsalba sa kanila in the long run.”

“Huwag nating hayaan na walang mananagot sakaling may mangyari sa ating mga delivery riders, motorcycle taxi riders, grab car drivers, o freelancers. Hindi dapat mangyari na ang lifeline ng rumaraket nating mga kababayan ay hindi pala makakapagsalba sa kanila in the long run,” she said.

Hontiveros emphasized that through the resolution, policymakers are also urged to break out of the contractor-employee binary and create a permanent social safety net that would cover all types of workers.

“Our employment landscape is evolving and so should our laws be. With the rapidly expanding gig economy, Congress must plan and think more broadly about delinking healthcare, unemployment insurance, and other vital benefits from specific forms of employment,” she said.

“No one should be left out, dapat all kasama sa new normal na may sapat na proteksyon at dignidad sa hanapbuhay, ano man ang kanyang employment status,” Hontiveros concluded.

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