Grab PH bans over 100 delivery drivers in Cebu City for availing ‘promo’

Cebu City Councilor Niña Mabatid addresses the issue of banned Grab drivers in Cebu City.

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Grab PH drivers in Cebu City has sought the help of the Cebu City Council on their loss of livelihood after they were allegedly banned by the food delivery application.

A group of drivers told reporters that they were banned by Grab PH on June 28, 2021, and July 4, 2021, after they were alleged of involving in fraudulent activities due to availing of a promo from a local restaurant that offers piso-delivery and a P20-off for any order without minimum orders.

The promo was hyped in June 2021, because people could buy food from the local restaurant in Cebu City at P2 pesos per pancit canton due to the P20-off promo and the additional piso-delivery promo of the app. The pancit canton was priced at P21.

One of the Grab drivers, whose name will be omitted for protection, said that they availed themselves of the promo at night because they were hungry.

He claimed there were no rules against Grab drivers using the app outside duty hours and availing of any subsequent promos thereof.

“Daghan kaayo nipalit ato nga promo kay dos pesos nalang gud ilang gibayran. Dili man pud ka buot if kami gibook. So kami pud, kung mopalit mi didto, dili pud mi kabuot kinsa among nabook,” he said.

However, on the eve of July 28, 2021, the Grab drivers who either availed of the promo or booked a client availing of the promo were informed that fraudulent activities were observed in their usage of the app.

The drivers said they were banned from the app an hour after they received the text warning and were interviewed for an investigation by Grab PH Cebu’s local administrators in the days that followed.

“Giingan mi nga almost 300 kuno mi nga i-ban kay lagi niapil atong promo. Dili man mi makabuot sa among booking. Nya kami man pud gutomon man mi, mao na mopalit pud mi,” said one of the drivers.

The drivers alleged that because Grab lost income due to the promo, they were “punishing” the drivers who got booked for the promo or availed the promo themselves.

After the second batch of banned drivers on July 4, 2021, the drivers approached Cebu City Councilor Niña Mabatid for help. The banning of drivers subsequently stopped as well.

More than 100 Grab drivers were banned before the local administration stopped the banning temporarily.

The councilor sought an explanation from Grab but she did not get a reply even after a month, prompting Mabatid to bring the issue to the council.

In her privilege speech, Councilor Mabatid pointed out the importance of delivery drivers during the pandemic when most people could not leave their homes.

“Just for everyone to know, ang income sa GRAB is a total of 49 pesos. 9 pesos goes to the grab company while the 40 pesos goes to the grab driver.”

“Ayahay ang GRAB kay walay puhunan gi pa gawas. Ang GRAB DRIVER man tawn ang mo advance ug bayad ngadto sa merchant like Jollibee and Mac Donald’s. Luoy gani kung naay mag binoang og order kay ang driver gyud ang alkansi,” she said. 

Mabatid urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and other relevant government agencies to investigate the incident. 

The councilor notes that DOLE through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has already come up with an advisory on the labor standards for food delivery riders.

Labor Advisory No. 14 Series of 2021 dated July 23, 2021, has been “issued to ensure compliance for all delivery and courier activities with applicable  general labor standard and occupational safety and courier activities using the digital platform.”

Under Section IV of the said Advisory, delivery riders who are deemed employees shall be entitled to the minimum benefits provided under the Labor Code and other labor laws, such as minimum wage, holiday pay, and other benefits under existing laws, including the right to security of tenure, self-organization, and collective bargaining.

For the councilor, Grab has treated the drivers unfairly and unjustly due to the immediate ban without proper explanation to the riders.

She urged the City Council to investigate the incident through an executive session inviting the affected drivers, Grab PH, and other pertinent government agencies.

The City Council agreed to do so and has called for an executive session to probe the incident.

The Council also passed a resolution urging the companies, partnerships, or individuals,  operating delivery and courier activities using digital platforms in Cebu City to comply with applicable general labor standards and occupational safety. 

Finally, the City Council urged the City’s Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) to assist and accommodate the unemployed Grab Drivers to find gainful employment. 

“I am not saying it is the Grab company’s fault nor the drivers fault. We just want the truth to come out. If sayop sa mga drivers then show us! Ipakita kung unsa ilang sala, Unsa ilang na violate para fair,” said Mabatid. 

In a text message to CDN Digital, Grab PH said they will investigate the incident in Cebu.

“We are carefully investigating the matter, and we will continuously rely on the facts and our open communication channels with our delivery partners. We thank Councilor Mabatid for supporting our delivery partners and rest assured that we will reach out to our partners and address this matter in private.”

“Grab will always be committed to supporting the needs of our partners during these difficult times, and we also have a responsibility to ensure that all partners on our platform are incentivized through their honest work – and key to this, are rules and policies that continuously upholds the safety, security, and wellbeing of our consumers, merchants, and partners,” said the food delivery app.            /rcg