Legal protection for food delivery riders

1. With the mushrooming of this food or parcel hailing industry, it is timely for our government to seriously look into the various dilemmas and problems faced by these different stakeholders and further review existing laws to safeguard public interest especially when this industry is also in line with government efforts to reduce people movement and combat the pandemic.

2. The first MCO and MCO 2.0 have seen more and more Malaysians joining the food delivery sector due to high demand or high unemployment rates arising from sectors in the traditional economy which have been badly hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

3. Similar to e-hailing car services, food delivery riders are currently categorised as part of the gig economy in Malaysia. To-date, this so-called p-hailing service has yet to be regulated properly under any specific law.

4. There are 4 main stakeholders under food delivery services. They are: online intermediary operators (such as Foodpanda, Grabfood), restaurant operators, delivery riders and consumers.

5. Meanwhile, we have also received various types of complaints from different stakeholders, such as:

i) Whether such online intermediary operators can impose any commission rates/ hidden costs on the menu prepared by the restaurant operators without any limit? Is the price too steep for average consumers in Malaysia especially those who come from B40 households?

ii) Whether they are entitled to make any kind of internal terms and conditions against its riders such as set a time limit for each food delivery despite road/ traffic/ weather conditions?

iii) Whether consumers may complain to the Consumer Claims Tribunal if they are dissatisfied with the food delivery services provided, for example: late deliveries, food that is not properly cooked, or even if the food is not clean.

6. Lastly, and most importantly, motorcycle riders face higher risks compared to e-hailing car drivers as they ride on a 2-wheel vehicle rather than sitting-behind 4-wheels. There is a bigger probability that food delivery riders will be involved in road accidents. However, on the other hand, they are only categorised as self-employed under SOCSO and may choose to contribute to SOCSO voluntarily. Meanwhile, online intermediary operators are not compelled to contribute such social insurance for them compared to other employers.

Thus, looking into legal protection for food and parcel delivery riders is a correct path for the government to take.

Видео Legal protection for food delivery riders канала MCA