Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, November 7 renewed her push for better protection of gig workers after a delivery rider was found lifeless while resting on his motorcycle.
At the same time, Hontiveros expressed her condolences to the family of Noel Escote, a Lalamove rider, who was found dead last November 1 at his parked motorcycle in Kapitolyo, Pasig City.
His live-in partner, Jennifer Bocboc, said Escote wasn’t feeling well that day but decided to work with the hopes he can find a booking during All Saints’ Day.
“Nakikiramay kami sa pamilya ni Noel Escote na binawian ng buhay sa gitna ng paghahanapbuhay bilang delivery rider (We condole with the family of Noel Escote who died in the middle of working as a delivery rider),” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“Let his death be a wake up call to our colleagues in the legislature to immediately act on pending bills that will make sure that the rights and welfare of the increasing number of gig economy workers are upheld,” she said.
Hontiveros also asked the company, Lalamove, to help Escote's family, especially because he died while fulfilling his duty as a delivery rider.
The senator also stated that she received a letter from Escote's family requesting assistance in conveying their grievance to the online platform.
“Isang halimbawa si Noel ng Pilipinong nagsisikap na magdeliver para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya. Kaya nananawagan ako sa Lalamove, kaisa ng pamilya ni Noel, na magpaabot ng tulong sa kanyang naulila upang mabigyan man lang siya ng disenteng libing (Noel is an example of a Filipino trying to deliver to meet the needs of his family. So I am calling on Lalamove, together with Noel's family, to extend help to his orphan so that he can at least be given a decent burial),” Hontiveros said.
Last October, Hontiveros filed Senate Bill No. 1373 or the Protektadong Online Workers, Entrepreneurs, Riders at Raketera (POWERR) Act seeking to protect the rights and welfare of gig economy workers, including delivery riders and freelancers, who are facing low pay and precarious conditions at work.
The bill primarily seeks to ensure that gig workers are enrolled in government social protection programs such as PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), Pag-ibig, among others.
The bill also aims to make online platforms be held liable for injuries sustained by the workers in the performance of their duty, especially among delivery riders.
“Currently, delivery riders are categorized as ‘independent contractors’ as opposed to employees. Therefore, they are not qualified to receive social protections under our labor laws,” she lamented.
There is also no clear polic for accident and health insurance of gig workers, so it is good to pass the measure into law to fill in the said gaps, she said.
“Huwag naman sanang may buhay pa ulit na masakripisyo bago matugunan ang kanilang hinaing. Kailangan ng agarang aksyon upang maiwasan ang mga ganitong pangyayari lalo pa’t dumarami pa ang pumapasok sa ganitong klase ng hanapbuhay (Let there be no more lives sacrificed before their grievances are met. Immediate action is needed to prevent such incidents, especially since more and more people are entering this type of occupation),” Hontiveros emphasized.