ONLINE delivery service provider foodpanda Philippines on Thursday said it is still awaiting “formal notification” on its appeal on a National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) decision in favor of delivery riders who were suspended in 2021.
“We have filed an appeal with the NLRC regarding their June 2022 Decision, and the complainants have yet to reply to our appeal,” the company said in a statement.
“Meanwhile, we remain committed to having continuous dialogues with our Ka-panda delivery partners, to provide them the support they need as we serve our vendor partners, customers and community,” foodpanda said.
On Wednesday, the Davao United Delivery Riders Association, Inc. (DUDRAI) said the NLRC affirmed the labor arbiter’s ruling that recognized seven delivery riders, who were suspended from the platform for 10 years, as regular employees.
The NLRC said the 10-year suspension is tantamount to being constructively dismissed.
Constructive dismissal is when a worker is compelled by an employer to resign due to a specific incident.
It said the delivery riders had an employer-employee relationship with the service provider.
DUDRAI said it expects foodpanda to bring the case to the Supreme Court and is ready for the lawsuit.
“Apart from the money claims, this is a victory so that companies like FoodPanda will recognize the rights and benefits that should be given to delivery riders,” Edmund D. Carillo, president of DUDRAI, said in a statement on Wednesday in Visayan. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
