DOLE Mandates Rider Protection Amid El Niño; Calls for Fair Wages Intensify

DOLE Mandates Rider Protection Amid El Niño; Calls for Fair Wages Intensify

By Jerome Aning – TheNATIONWEEK.com | November 12, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued a stringent mandate requiring digital labor platforms, delivery, and logistics companies to implement comprehensive safety measures to protect motorcycle taxi and delivery riders from occupational heat stress, particularly during the ongoing El Niño phenomenon and other periods of extreme heat.

This directive comes amid growing demands from rider associations for fair compensation and accountability following a substantial fine imposed on a prominent ride-hailing firm.

Under Labor Advisory No. 22, Series of 2026, signed by Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino, companies are now required to conduct Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control (HIRAC) along delivery routes.

This includes evaluating heat index levels, actual working conditions, travel duration, and access to essential amenities like drinking water, cooling, and shelter facilities.

Key provisions of the advisory include:

• Real-time Information: Riders must be informed of current heat index levels.

• Essential Support: Provision of free drinking water, shaded rest areas, and dedicated hydration and cooling breaks.

• Protective Gear & First Aid: Suitable protective equipment and readily available first-aid assistance.

• Operational Adjustments: Companies must reduce, reschedule, or suspend delivery assignments when extreme heat poses serious risks, depending on heat index categories.

• Emergency Preparedness: Platforms must maintain 24/7 emergency assistance channels and accessible SOS functions, ensuring riders experiencing severe heat-related symptoms receive immediate help without completing deliveries.

• Protection Against Penalties: Companies are strictly prohibited from imposing deductions, reducing ratings or incentives, restricting assignment access, suspending or deactivating accounts, or applying other penalties against riders who prioritize safety by taking breaks, changing routes, or canceling deliveries due to unsafe heat conditions.

• Training and Social Protection: Mandated heat safety training, enrollment in the Social Security System (SSS), and reporting of work-related heat illnesses, including submission of a Work Accident/Illness Report (WAIR) for incidents involving hospitalization, permanent disability, or death.

Violations of these guidelines will trigger administrative sanctions and penalties under applicable laws. Secretary Tolentino reiterated DOLE’s commitment to advancing the safety of Filipino workers against the dangers posed by extreme heat.

Riders Demand Action on Fare Reductions Following Move It Fine

Meanwhile, the United Davao Delivery Riders Association (UDDRA) has urged DOLE to investigate and intervene regarding reported cuts in delivery fares for GrabFood riders nationwide. The fare reduction, which UDDRA describes as “sudden and drastic,” occurred after the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) imposed a hefty P555.75-million administrative fine on Move It, a company owned by Grab Philippines, for maintaining an excess of 55,575 riders beyond its allocated cap.

UDDRA, in a statement, suspects that the financial burden of this fine is being unfairly passed on to food delivery riders through diminished earnings. Crowdsourced evidence gathered by the group from riders in Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao reportedly shows delivery fares plummeting to as low as P1.00 per booking, with many experiencing reductions of at least P6.00 per delivery. Riders emphasize that these amounts are insufficient to cover time, distance, fuel, and effort, exacerbated by the rising costs of fuel, motorcycle maintenance, and mobile data.

“We, the delivery riders, are not merely components of the digital economy. We provide the labor that enables these platforms to generate profits, yet we are denied the right to participate in decision-making and are not consulted on policies imposed by the company,” UDDRA stated.

The association argues that such unilateral fare reductions potentially violate Article 100 of the Labor Code, which prohibits the arbitrary reduction or withdrawal of established benefits. They also cite Article XIII, Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution, asserting workers’ right to participate in decision-making processes directly affecting their livelihoods, demanding transparency, meaningful consultation, and collective representation.

UDDRA’s specific demands to DOLE include:

• Investigate reported fare reductions by GrabFood and other platforms and assess their impact on riders’ actual earnings.

• Require Grab Philippines to disclose its delivery fare computation system and justify rate changes.

• Ensure meaningful consultation with riders and their organizations before implementing significant changes to compensation and working conditions.

• Establish mechanisms to prevent arbitrary fare reductions and develop policies guaranteeing fair, transparent, and reasonable compensation standards for delivery workers.

The association also reiterates its call for an P80 base fare with an additional P20 per kilometer and an end to unfair bundled delivery schemes.

Digital Pinoys: No Amnesty for Violations; Accountability is Paramount

Adding to the pressure, advocacy group Digital Pinoys has called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB to ensure that any review of motorcycle taxi rider allocations does not absolve Move It of its regulatory violations. This follows DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon’s statement suggesting that current motorcycle taxi allocation caps might be outdated.

Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald Gustilo stressed, “The idea of reviewing the motorcycle taxi allocation caps should not pave the way for any amnesty nor free pass for Move It. The violation has been repeatedly committed already, and the rules are there to be followed. These are not mere suggestions.”

Gustilo emphasized that while the government may review caps, such adjustments must have a strong basis and should not render past violations moot. He urged the LTFRB to vigorously pursue the collection of the imposed P555.75-million penalty once all legal processes are concluded.

“We should not choose between accountability and economic opportunity. It should come hand in hand, and riders should not be used as pawns to escape accountability,” Gustilo asserted, advocating for industry expansion within a regulatory framework that safeguards commuters, riders, and fair competition.

The confluence of DOLE’s proactive measures against extreme heat and the strong calls for corporate accountability and fair rider compensation highlights an evolving landscape for platform economy workers in the Philippines, demanding both safety and economic justice.

UDDRA, which is leading an online petition for the rights of the nation’s burgeoning gig economy workforce, contends that corporate fines must not be passed on to workers, that riders are entitled to fair delivery fares, and that riders have the right to decent earnings and dignity at work.

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