Hong Kong union calls on Deliveroo to clarify staff arrangements after closure
Head of Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions says a third of about 200 delivery riders contacted are worried about livelihoods
A Hong Kong labour union has called on food delivery platform Deliveroo to clarify staff arrangements ahead of plans to shut down local operations, as some consumers voiced shock and dismay at being left with unused coupons worth thousands of dollars.
Legislator Lam Chun-sing, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, said on Tuesday that his group had contacted about 200 riders, a third of whom expressed concerns about their livelihoods as they relied on Deliveroo rather than rivals Foodpanda and Keeta to earn a living.
He noted that employees of the London-based company had been given scant details about their futures, with Deliveroo only saying it would redirect workers and sell some assets to rival Foodpanda after ceasing operations in Hong Kong on April 7.
“They are worried about the service capacity of Foodpanda and the amount of jobs they can be assigned given that it will take up more riders,” Lam told a radio programme.
“They wonder if they can earn a similar salary as before and hope Deliveroo can provide more details.”
Deliveroo said on Monday that it would be pulling out of the Hong Kong market, leaving Berlin-based rival Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda to compete directly with Keeta. Deliveroo said it had lost money in Hong Kong last year.
