DOLE sets safety guidelines for delivery riders amid El Niño

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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set guidelines for delivery riders amid the effects of Super El Niño.

In a "24 Oras" report from Bernadette Reyes on Friday, DOLE met with representatives of online platforms to discuss the welfare of their riders amid the heat brought by the drought. DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino asked the companies to support their riders.

“Napagkasunduan kung paano ang proteksyon sa mga rider… na hindi ma-pe-penalize ang mga riders at di rin mai-inconvenience ang mga customers,” Tolentino said.

(We have made an agreement on how to protect the riders… that does not penalize them and inconvenience the customers.)

Some of the guidelines set included allowing delivery time to be extended and scheduling deliveries when it is not too hot. If the heat is too intense, then deliveries could be suspended altogether.

There will also be no penalties if the delivery is cancelled because the rider is in danger.

“Lalabas sa app nila na ganito kainit, puwedeng hindi tanggapin ang delivery, at aabisuhan din yung customer na ma-late dahil sa sobrang init,” Tolentino said.

(Their app will indicate how hot it is outside. They may decline the delivery, and customers will also be notified that their orders may be delayed due to the extreme heat.)

The company representatives said that they will ensure the safety of riders.

“The safety and welfare of riders is our number one priority,” said lawyer Marien Lucenario, the Public Affairs Manager of Grab Philippines.

“We are also going to make sure our partner riders are safe and taken care of during El Niño,” InDrive Country Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager Reini Evangelista said.

DOLE is also studying including riders from ride-hailing apps in the guidelines.

However, some riders are still worried about canceling their bookings, as it may affect their standing on the app.

“‘Pag nag-cancel kami, kami mawawalan ng booking, yung account namin hihina… wala kami magagawa pag mainit kailangan pa rin namin maghanap buhay,” delivery rider Michael Remion said. (If we cancel, we will lose the booking; our account will weaken…we cannot do anything if it is too hot; we need to make a living.) —Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News