P-HAILING service provider GrabFood has recently announced a change in pay rates for p-hailing riders which has caused concern among riders who have found that their pay rates have declined compared to earlier.
The change comes into effect without any prior consultation with the riders although GrabFood previously referred to them as “business partners”.
In this regard, PKR Youth wishes to reiterate that any changes that impact the interests of riders need to be discussed and negotiated with riders, especially in the case of pay rates that have a direct impact on their lives.
The importance of transparency and fairness in the company’s relationship with riders should be emphasised.
Grabfood needs to carry out their responsibility as a concerned employer in an effort to ensure that welfare of the riders is protected instead of just weighing on profits as an industry player.
As explained before, the shallow statement of Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who claimed the Grab management comes under the purview of the Finance Ministry is not at all accurate.
PKR Youth has been fighting for the rights of p-hailing riders for years and we condemn the hypocritical actions of Wan Ahmad Fahysal who clearly rode on this issue without checking actual facts for political interest.
(Editor’s Note: Meanwhile, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal has threatened legal action against detractors who claimed that he called for a boycott of Grabfood on grounds that the p-hailing service provider is supporting the Israeli conquest of Palestine.)
For the information of all parties, the Madani government has taken progressive initiative by holding a meeting with p-hailing companies and p-hailing rider NGOs (non-governmental organisastions) with the latest progress being the discussion with the Human Resources Ministry at pro-tem level.
We once again urge the ministries involved to accelerate this process in an effort to ensure the future of p-hailing riders in Malaysia is guaranteed.
(Editor’s Note: For the record, p-hailing riders staged an industrial action on Friday (Jan 19) from 7am to 12pm to protest the alleged reduction of their pay rate from RM4.50 to RM3.50.)
Bryan Ng Yih Miin is the strategy director for PKR Youth.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
