Foodpanda unmoved by riders on strike

The food delivery service Foodpanda Malaysia appears unmoved despite an ongoing strike against its new pay scheme.

At a briefing at a Kuala Lumpur hotel today, the company’s managing director Sayantan Das (above) said delivery riders who don’t want to work should swap their swifts with other riders who do, so not to affect the latter’s income.

“If you don’t want to work, please give or swap your shift with other riders because you are affecting their livelihood,” he said.

Sayantan was asked about riders who have gone on strike by logging onto the Foodpanda app but refuse to accept delivery orders.

Referring to supposed threats that riders who join the strike would have their ID terminated, Sayantan denied such threats were made.

“During the strike, we did not terminate any ID or threaten the riders.

“Our message is that if you don’t want to work, we’re okay because going on strike is not against the law,” he told reporters at a press conference later.

Asked about government intervention in the matter, Sayantan explained that the government is not involved.

“The decision was made amongst ourselves without government influence, but we would welcome government involvement in the decision.

“Their efforts help improve market conditions for us and help guide us in our decision-making,” he said.

Between Oct 1 and Oct 3, Foodpanda delivery riders have gone on strike against a new pay scheme that came into force for delivery riders outside the Klang Valley since Sept 30.

Sayantan said the company was not affected by the strike.

“The strike was done by a very small group of our riders. We have studied and analysed the riders; less than one percent had started the strike,” he said.

Previously, despite the company’s assertions that the new pay scheme would raise incomes, riders had claimed that they sometimes had to wait several hours without receiving any orders, meaning their pay would be reduced under the scheme.

This was because the new scheme abolishes an hourly wage in favour of an increased delivery fee. - Mkini