foodpanda Hong Kong to hold another talk with couriers amid stalemate

Foodpanda Hong Kong and its couriers held a talk on Tuesday evening after hundreds of couriers went on strike over last weekend to protest against pay cuts. According to multiple reports, both parties did not reach an agreement and another talk is expected to take place on Thursday. A Ming Pao report said eight representatives of the couriers met with the management on Tuesday, raising 15 demands including setting up the minimum order fee, improving the order assignment system and setting a time limit for picking up deliveries. Both parties talked until after midnight on Wednesday but no agreement had been reached. However, the representatives of couriers said the management of the company showed goodwill, however, it did not agree to set up the minimum order fee. 

Foodpanda Hong Kong's operations director Pedro Dias said the meeting had significant progress and some of the solutions are yet to be settled upon. He added that the company would not "penalise" couriers who participated in the strike. A representative of the couriers quoted foodpanda Hong Kong's management that many of the demands could be met and the company will talk to the headquarters and "proactively fight for their demands." 

Previously, foodpanda Hong Kong said the adjustments made to the service fee could not be calculated solely based on the base fee of each order. As order demand steadily increases during peak hours, the company has reinvested the money adjusted into providing higher peak hour service fees, which amounts to double what was offered this time last year, allowing more couriers to earn more during peak hours, while fulfilling customer demand. The company added that if couriers accept orders during peak hours, their income would increase.

Over 300 foodpanda couriers went on strike on Saturday as foodpanda Hong Kong decreased the delivery fee of each order by HK$10 throughout the year. For example, couriers who deliver food on foot saw payouts decrease from HK$35 to HK24 per order, while couriers using their motorcycles had their payment drop from HK$55 to HK$44. A representative of the couriers said he could earn up to HK$1,000 a day in August. However, after the adjustment, his income decreased to just about HK$700 a day.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to foodpanda Hong Kong for more details over the meeting last night. 

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