BUSINESS

Group calls reinstatement of suspended riders

Maria Bernadette Romero

The National Union of Food Delivery Riders urged super app Grab Philippines to reinstate some of its suspended delivery riders.

On Monday, the union reiterated that the concern has already reached the National Labor Relations Commission or NLRC, but Grab already committed to remain open to dialogue with industry stakeholders to better understand their needs and concerns.

"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," Grab said.

Earlier, some delivery riders staged a unity ride in Quezon City to protest Grab's new fare rate per order, which was slightly cut to P35 from the previous P45.

The per kilometer compensation of P10 was also marginally reduced to P7.

For Grab, the delivery fare adjustment ensures that a rider's effort is well compensated, especially considering the current macroeconomic changes.

"The new model was designed to address 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," Grab said.

Grab has also made "significant upgrades" to the partner-platform interaction, deploying advanced digital tools for better order forecasting and preparation time accuracy, as well as merchant education programs.

It will significantly reduce unnecessary delays–allowing partners to fulfill more orders in less time, and thus increasing their potential earnings.