By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – In line with its advocacy to protect the rights and welfare of the workers, the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) activated its organizing mechanism for the delivery services workers and drivers in Negros Occidental.
GAWA Secretary-General Wennie Sancho said all workers in the delivery services, whether regular or contractual, can affiliate with GAWA individually or by groups.
“Since they were not unionized, they can be protected by GAWA which is an organization for the mutual aid ang protection of unorganized worker,” Sancho said.
Most of these workers are vulnerable to exploitation and abuses by some unscrupulous employer, Sancho, said noting that amid the pandemic, delivery services of foods and goods had scaled up as one of the most profitable businesses in the country.
Unfortunately, there were massive reports and complaints of abuses and discrimination, terms and conditions of employment that violates labor standards, violations of minimum wage and illegal dismissals among others, he added.
Sancho said that workers under these categories will be classified under the Delivery Services Workers and Drivers (GAWA-DSWD).
The labor problems of these workers were compounded by the malpractices of most delivery companies to “contract out” services that are necessary and desirable to the business of the company to a third party called “independent contractors” to escape the social responsibilities resulting due to the existence of an employee-employer relationship, he further said.
He urged the DOLE to stop this circumvention,
“In their ardent desire to earn more in order to sustain the economic needs of their families these delivery workers and drivers are overworked but underpaid. Under stress to meet their deadline or quota they are prone to accidents during rush hour or in times of natural calamities. What they urgently need are adequate social protection like health insurance and hospitalization in case of accidents. Their contribution to our economy as frontliners cannot be underrated,” Sancho lamented.
He also lamented that these workers’ contribution to the wealth and profit of the capitalists are not appreciated.
What they get are usually the “crumbs of the bread,” he said.
“We must learn to respect our workers and give what is due to them.”
“Labor which is called the primary social economic force should be treated with dignity and respect, because the recovery of our economy, amid the pandemic, lies on their toiling hands,” Sancho added.