The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of a draft act protecting delivery workers’ rights and managing delivery platforms, stipulating that, per delivery, workers must earn at least 1.25 times the minimum hourly wage, or a minimum of NT$45.
The pay rate would be adjusted annually depending on the minimum wage, the draft says.
The act would take effect six months after its promulgation, and the Ministry of Labor would specify how it would be implemented after consulting with relevant businesses.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
The draft act requires delivery platforms to pay workers at least twice a month and provide clear payment statements showing how earnings and deductions are calculated.
It also requires delivery platforms to set up a complaint system, allowing delivery workers to raise concerns about pay, account suspensions or contract terminations, and disputes with cooperating businesses or customers.
Platforms must also set up a task force of no less than three people to handle complaints, including at least one union representative, and cannot treat workers unfairly due to complaints, the draft states.
Platforms cannot stipulate delivery personnel’s working hours, require them to keep working against their will, or treat them unfairly for refusing orders or going offline to rest, it states.
In addition, when a local government cancels work due to dangerous weather or natural disasters, delivery platforms should suspend operations in the area and inform local delivery personnel and cooperating business, it states.
Platforms must provide contracted delivery workers with accident and liability insurance, and workers cannot deliver until insured, the draft says.
In terms of fines, the bill stipulates that delivery platforms can be fined NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 for failing to report a work-related injury within eight hours, NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 for avoiding supervision and inspection, and NT$20,000 to NT$100,000 for contravening payment regulations.
Delivery workers’ unions said that the law is a milestone for the industry, as it establishes a minimum wage for delivery workers, guarantees them insurance and gives them a system through which to file complaints.
Establishing a minimum wage, insurance and grievance mechanisms under the law would clarify the rights and responsibilities of platforms and delivery workers, Taiwan Delivery Industry Rights Promotion Alliance spokesperson Su Pai-hao (蘇柏豪) said.
It not only protects workers’ rights, but is key to the healthy and sustainable growth of the industry, Su said.
Whether the system can truly improve delivery workers’ situations depends on how the act is implemented and applied, National Delivery Industrial Union chairperson Chen Yu-an (陳昱安) said.
Uber Eats said that it hopes the act is implemented taking into consideration how the market operates and the industry’s needs, balancing the interests of all parties.
Foodpanda said it would start running different operational tests to prepare for potential changes and impacts on the market.
Additional reporting by Lin Che-yuan
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