The riders’ rights group
Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) asked the government for a package of
social assistance for the so-called “bagong bayani” ahead of the first SONA of President
Bongbong Marcos.
Kagulong held a pre-SONA
online gathering yesterday were riders aired their grievances and tabled a set
of demands. The group plans to join the alternative SONA mobilization of civil
society groups on Monday.
“Protection of riders’
rights, livelihood and safety are the three main issue facing the riding
community. These can be addressed by the new government through legislation or
executive action,” stated Don Pangan Kagulong secretary-general.
He explained that the incomes
of food delivery, courier and motorcycle taxi riders have been severely
affected by rising prices of gasoline. As independent contractors, fuel costs
as well as vehicle maintenance are shouldered by riders and not the apps.
“When gas prices were around
P60 per liter, riders spent P200 to P300 for travelling for 8 to 10 hour a day.
Now that gas costs P70 to P80 per liter, fuel expenses have risen to P300 to
P400 but gross incomes have remained the same. So, a rider earning P800 daily
gets to take home only P500 today instead of P600 or more previously. This net
income is now below the minimum wage. Riders are falling into the ranks of the
working poor. Thus, the urgency of the demand for subsidized fuel and basic
goods,” Pangan elaborated.
He added “In addition, riders
set aside P50 daily for vehicle maintenance and P100 to P150 weekly (P150/7
days = P21.42) for their cellphone load. This just leaves P428.58 as the
take-home pay of a rider. If the spouse also works as a rider, the aggregate household
income comes up to only a little more than P800 daily which falls short of the
P1,300 cost of living estimate of Partido Manggagawa. No wonder that if riders
fall sick or meet an accident then they plunge into debt given that they have
no social protection as self-employed workers. Therefore, we demand recognition
as employees with labor rights and social security.”
Kagulong is also asking
Congress to repeal the Doble Plaka law for being discriminatory to riders and
authorities for better enforcement of road safety laws.
Kagulong
July 21, 2022
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