Hong Kong’s disgruntled food delivery riders seek government help settling pay, contract disputes with platform operators
- In latest action since Monday, over 500 riders have refused to do deliveries during lunchtime peak period
- Labour Department says it will set up a meeting between striking riders and platform operators soon
Hong Kong labour authorities are taking a more active role in settling disputes between delivery riders and major food platform operators, including last week’s strike by more than 500 riders, the Post has learned.
Strike organiser Nervin Deol* said a variety of pressing issues had triggered their action to stop work over the peak lunch period between 11.30am and 2pm since last Monday.
Disputes between riders and platform operators have surfaced in the past, but for the first time, Deol and other riders handed a petition to the Labour Department on Wednesday seeking help from the government.
He said the department replied that a meeting between representatives of the companies and riders would be held soon.
On Friday, the department told the Post it had taken several actions earlier in response to riders’ past complaints, including setting up a liaison group last year to improve communication between the government, platform operators and other stakeholders.
“Feedback from digital platform workers gathered from various sources will be brought up to platform companies for reference,” the department spokesman said.
