The General Alliance of Workers Association has activated its organizing mechanism for delivery service workers and drivers in Negros Occidental, GAWA secretary General Wennie Sancho said today, February 26.
All workers in the delivery services, whether regular or contractual, can affiliate with GAWA individually or by groups, he said.
“Since they are not unionized, they can be protected by GAWA,” he said
Most of these workers are vulnerable to exploitation and abuses by unscrupulous employers, Sancho said.
GAWA has noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery services of food and goods scaled up as one of the most profitable businesses in the country, he said.
“In their desire to earn to sustain the needs of their families, many of these delivery workers and drivers are overworked and underpaid. Under stress to meet their deadlines or quota they are prone to accidents during rush hours or in times of natural calamities,” he added.
They need adequate protection like health insurance in case of hospitalization caused by accidents, he said.*