[Gig Economy. Four] Creating "false freedom" grassroots workers face multiple exploitation

The gig economy brings a broad market and active capital investment to the development of the platform, and injects full momentum into the social economy.

However, for grassroots workers, what it weaves may be just a beautiful lie.

Following Deliveroo's restructuring, which triggered a large-scale strike protest by delivery workers, another food delivery platform giant Foodpanda recently announced the news of the restructuring.

Ken, the "infantry" takeaway who initiated labor negotiations, said in an interview with the media that Foodpanda updated its policy twice. First, it lowered the base price of the service fee at the end of June. For each order the takeaway receives, the base price will be deducted by an average of 1 yuan, which is a disguised deduction. Reduce labor; at the beginning of July, the order rate was flattened and the service fee was abolished. Even the delivery staff could not know how much reserve price an order received.

"The charge for each delivery is updated every two weeks, just like the price of seafood," he said.

Lu Chung-hsiung, a member of the Labour Legislative Council of the Federation of Trade Unions, criticized that the "gig economy" was creating "false freedom" for delivery workers. Recalling his experience as a delivery worker, his strongest feeling was "a lot of pressure." It seems to be sold out for a few hours, and there is no freedom at all.” (Photo by Gong Jiasheng)

Lu Songxiong showed the reporter a dedicated app for Foodpanda delivery staff, "Every order sent to you must be received, because Foodpanda has a requirement for an order compliance rate, which is more than 30 yuan per order, and only 20 yuan per order if the standard is not met. The difference is It's huge," he said.

(Photo by Gong Jiasheng)

If accidental death or permanent disability is caused, Foodpanda's compensation is only 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, and Deliveroo is only 349,000 yuan.

For temporary total disability, Foodpanda provides a weekly compensation of 500 Hong Kong dollars, with a maximum of ten weeks, while Deliveroo is relatively high, providing a weekly compensation of 3,880 yuan, with a maximum of 26 weeks.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

[Articles on the gig economy series]

one.

Are you ready for the new production organization model to hit Hong Kong?

two.

The platform responds to its characteristics and improves its services to form a new type of monopoly. Fierce competition

three.

Hong Kong's gig economy is in urgent need of government support

Four.

Create "false freedom" grassroots workers face multiple exploitation

For details, please read the 278th "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly Newsletter (August 16, 2021) "