DUBAI: Food-delivery workers have quit all jobs protesting low pay and inadequate security DubaiHis company confirmed Tuesday, marking the second strike in as many weeks in an emirate that sparked disagreements.
foreign workers contracted by talabatoThe Middle East Delivery Hero’s unit began its walkout late Monday after an event on social media, which led to the application’s services being overwhelmed.
As fuel prices rise, many said they were pushing for a modest wage increase from their current rate of $2.04 per delivery – comparing last week to another extremely rare strike among contractors for delivery service Deliveroo. in low wages.
Deliveroo drivers now make $2.79 per delivery after the UK-based company was forced to backtrack from its plan to cut workers’ wages and extend their hours. Strikes and unions are illegal in the United Arab Emirates, where the subject of labor standards has become controversial in recent years.
Video What was shared on social media shows several people riding in the pond in the early morning, gathering near their parked motorcycles. It was not clear how many riders took part in the strike, with Talabat admitting to some “delay in operations” on Tuesday.
Talabat, owned by Germany-based Delivery Hero, confirmed the stoppage in a statement to the Associated Press, saying the company is “committed to ensuring that riders can continue to rely on our platform to provide their families ”
“Rider pay satisfaction was above 70% as of last week,” the company said, without explaining how it arrived at that number. “Nevertheless, we understand that economic and political realities are constantly changing, and we will always continue to listen to what riders have to say.”
Many striking Talabat riders say they expect an increase of up to about $2.72 per delivery, especially when they are seeing the rising gas prices that they pay out of pocket. Many people drive about 300–400 kilometers (190–250 mi) a day.
Riders also described a mountain of other costs to contractors seeking jobs in Dubai, including routine motorcycle maintenance costs such as visa fees, toll fees, oil changes and hospital expenses. Drivers say contractors do not provide drivers with adequate accident insurance, even as accidents occur frequently on Dubai’s dangerous roads.
This leaves delivery workers mainly part of Dubai’s vast overseas workforce. Africa And Asian countries like India and Pakistan have little cash to pay rent and send back home to the families they support.
As it attempts to burnish its image as a cosmopolitan haven for migrant workers, United Arab Emirates It has long faced constant criticism from human rights groups, the difficult conditions and relatively low wages faced by the country’s manual laborers. Strikes over wage disputes have occurred sporadically in the past, although workers face deportation and prosecution for outbreaks of discontent.
Officials say the country has introduced labor reforms and offered many workers better money than they could find back home amid poverty and sometimes conflict.
Analysts say delivery contractors are feeling upbeat in the emirate’s tight labor market, with companies struggling to find employees following massive layoffs of manual workers across Dubai. Gulf Arab countries are also increasingly competing to attract migrant workers and professionals.
“The full extent of the damage to the labor market has not been calculated,” said Ryan BohloA senior Middle East analyst for a US risk intelligence firm Narayan Rane, “Strike workers know they can’t be replaced quickly.”
Khan, 24, a pond driver and breadwinner for his nine-year-old family in Peshawar, Pakistan, said he barely makes a living in Dubai – even though he hasn’t taken a day off in three months and works 15 hours a day. Do you do day. He said that he has been hit by cars twice and injured his leg while at work, but could never afford the treatment.
“I am not doing strikes for myself or for my friends. I know it is not good for us,” he said, adding that he should be identified only by his family name for fear of retaliation. is for the future. For people like us, coming here to Dubai.”
foreign workers contracted by talabatoThe Middle East Delivery Hero’s unit began its walkout late Monday after an event on social media, which led to the application’s services being overwhelmed.
As fuel prices rise, many said they were pushing for a modest wage increase from their current rate of $2.04 per delivery – comparing last week to another extremely rare strike among contractors for delivery service Deliveroo. in low wages.
Deliveroo drivers now make $2.79 per delivery after the UK-based company was forced to backtrack from its plan to cut workers’ wages and extend their hours. Strikes and unions are illegal in the United Arab Emirates, where the subject of labor standards has become controversial in recent years.
Video What was shared on social media shows several people riding in the pond in the early morning, gathering near their parked motorcycles. It was not clear how many riders took part in the strike, with Talabat admitting to some “delay in operations” on Tuesday.
Talabat, owned by Germany-based Delivery Hero, confirmed the stoppage in a statement to the Associated Press, saying the company is “committed to ensuring that riders can continue to rely on our platform to provide their families ”
“Rider pay satisfaction was above 70% as of last week,” the company said, without explaining how it arrived at that number. “Nevertheless, we understand that economic and political realities are constantly changing, and we will always continue to listen to what riders have to say.”
Many striking Talabat riders say they expect an increase of up to about $2.72 per delivery, especially when they are seeing the rising gas prices that they pay out of pocket. Many people drive about 300–400 kilometers (190–250 mi) a day.
Riders also described a mountain of other costs to contractors seeking jobs in Dubai, including routine motorcycle maintenance costs such as visa fees, toll fees, oil changes and hospital expenses. Drivers say contractors do not provide drivers with adequate accident insurance, even as accidents occur frequently on Dubai’s dangerous roads.
This leaves delivery workers mainly part of Dubai’s vast overseas workforce. Africa And Asian countries like India and Pakistan have little cash to pay rent and send back home to the families they support.
As it attempts to burnish its image as a cosmopolitan haven for migrant workers, United Arab Emirates It has long faced constant criticism from human rights groups, the difficult conditions and relatively low wages faced by the country’s manual laborers. Strikes over wage disputes have occurred sporadically in the past, although workers face deportation and prosecution for outbreaks of discontent.
Officials say the country has introduced labor reforms and offered many workers better money than they could find back home amid poverty and sometimes conflict.
Analysts say delivery contractors are feeling upbeat in the emirate’s tight labor market, with companies struggling to find employees following massive layoffs of manual workers across Dubai. Gulf Arab countries are also increasingly competing to attract migrant workers and professionals.
“The full extent of the damage to the labor market has not been calculated,” said Ryan BohloA senior Middle East analyst for a US risk intelligence firm Narayan Rane, “Strike workers know they can’t be replaced quickly.”
Khan, 24, a pond driver and breadwinner for his nine-year-old family in Peshawar, Pakistan, said he barely makes a living in Dubai – even though he hasn’t taken a day off in three months and works 15 hours a day. Do you do day. He said that he has been hit by cars twice and injured his leg while at work, but could never afford the treatment.
“I am not doing strikes for myself or for my friends. I know it is not good for us,” he said, adding that he should be identified only by his family name for fear of retaliation. is for the future. For people like us, coming here to Dubai.”