Delivery drivers protest wage cuts by major platforms

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — More than 50 disgruntled food delivery drivers gathered before the Legislative Yuan on Wednesday (Oct. 11), protesting against the significant wage cuts by Taiwan's major food delivery platforms, foodpanda and Uber Eats. 

The drivers claim that their earnings have dwindled from NT＄70 per order to below NT＄40 on these platforms, with two orders not even fetching NT＄64.

Statistics show delivery personnel substantially increased from nearly 40,000 in 2019 to over 140,000 this year.

Chen Yu-an, Chairman of the National Delivery Industrial Union, voiced his concerns about the drivers' working rights and wage standards, stating that it is crucial to enact dedicated legislation to protect them.

"We don't know what the Ministry of Labor has done in the past four years," Chen questioned the ministry's inaction.

Legislator Hung Mong-kai accused the government of turning a blind eye to the situation without proposing relevant legislation. 

It's noteworthy that the draft of the special law has passed its first reading, according to the union.

In response, foodpanda asserted that their compensation calculations are all public information. In addition, the estimated amount of compensation would be displayed for each order so that the delivery person can evaluate whether to accept it. As for Uber Eats, they have yet to respond as of press time.