Food delivery riders and couriers are entitled to minimum benefits under the Labor Code of the Philippines, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
The Department of Labor Employment issued an advisory in order to help set the standards in determining work relationships introduced by the booming delivery service sector.
In an advisory, Bello said delivery riders who are considered employees of the digital platform company are entitled to the minimum benefits under the Labor Code of the Philippines.
All delivery riders who are deemed employees of the digital platform company shall enjoy the minimum standards and benefits and these are minimum wage, holiday pay, premium pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, service incentive leave, thirteenth-month pay, separation pay, and retirement pay.
They are also entitled to get occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, including SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, and other benefits under existing laws.
Riders shall also enjoy the right to security of tenure, self-organization, and collective bargaining, Bello said.
But those deemed as independent contractors or freelancers shall be governed by their respective contracts or agreements with the digital platform company, Bello said.
The contract or agreement shall also stipulate compliance with applicable OSH standards, such as but not limited to the use of standard protective helmet and personal protective equipment, and attendance to regular training and seminars on road and traffic rules and road safety to be arranged by the digital platform company in coordination with relevant government agencies.