Amid death of delivery rider

AFTER the death of a delivery rider while resting on his motorcycle, Senator Risa Hontiveros reiterated her call for the passage of a bill granting stronger protection to delivery riders.

Just last month, Hontiveros filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1373 or the “Protektadong Online Workers, Entrepreneurs, Riders at Raketera” (POWERR) Act seeking to protect the rights and welfare of gig economy workers, including delivery riders and freelancers, who are facing low pay and precarious conditions at work.

One of the critical points of the said measure is to ensure that these workers are enrolled in government social protection programs such as PhilHealth, SSS, and Pag-Ibig, among others. Furthermore, online platforms will be held liable for injuries sustained by the workers in the performance of their duty, especially among delivery riders.

“Currently, delivery riders are categorized as “independent contractors” as opposed to employees. Therefore, they are not qualified to receive social protections under our labor laws. Wala ring malinaw na patakaran para sa accident at health insurance, kaya magandang maipasa na ang batas to fill in the said gaps,” Hontiveros stated.

“Huwag naman sanang may buhay pa ulit na masakripisyo bago matugunan ang kanilang hinaing. Kailangan ng agarang aksyon upang maiwasan ang mga ganitong pangyayari lalo pa’t dumarami pa ang pumapasok sa ganitong klase ng hanapbuhay,” she concluded.

Hontiveros expressed her condolences to the family of Noel Escote, who died while performing his work as a delivery rider.

“Let his death be a wake-up call to our colleagues in the legislature to immediately act on pending bills that will make sure that the rights and welfare of the increasing number of gig economy workers are upheld,” she said.

Hontiveros, who received a letter from Escote’s family requesting assistance in conveying their grievance to the online platform, asked the company to help Escote’s family, especially because he died while fulfilling his duty as a delivery rider.

She further said that Noel is an example of a Filipino who is striving to earn a living for their family, who unfortunately died doing so.

“Isang halimbawa si Noel ng Pilipinong nagsisikap na magdeliver para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya. Kaya nananawagan ako sa Lalamove, kaisa ng pamilya ni Noel, na magpaabot ng tulong sa kanyang naulila upang mabigyan man lang siya ng disenteng libing,” Hontiveros said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas