The dialogue for the conclusion of a collective agreement is slow and absent – Proposals submitted, developments in April
Three months after the strikes by Wolt distributors and the start of consultations to create a framework for working conditions, the situation still remains in the same denominator. Product and food service distributors and the unions that represent them continue to demand more humane working conditions, a message they also expressed at the protest they held on the occasion of the death of 26-year-old distributor Sunny Hosen, who died in a car accident on evening of March 23 during working hours.
The need to regulate and improve the lives of this section of workers and reduce the risk of accidents is more pressing than ever, the unions say. Speaking to “K”, Neophytos Timinis, c.g. of the union of hotel and leisure center employees (SYXKA) PEO, emphasized that there is now a need to speed up the dialogue (under the umbrella of the Department of Labor Relations), in order to minimize the risk of mourning new victims on the asphalt.
< p>Proposals such as setting a maximum number of daily trips as well as maximizing product delivery time are expected to be put on the consultation table
As he mentioned, on Monday morning the guilds contacted the director of the Department, Antis Apostolou, and received the commitment to speed up the procedures with the aim of concluding as soon as possible. For his part, Charalambos Augusti, c.g. of the oil transport and agriculture federation (OMEPEGE) SEC, speaks of slow progress in the process. Already the timetable that had been set and wanted an end to the issue by the end of February, has not been met.
Now, a new meeting with the Ministry of Labor and the relevant department is expected around the beginning of April. In the meantime, the suggestions of the trade unions have been sent for the working conditions of the distributors, with the most important – after the last accident – emerging the issue of worker safety. “Our request is a comprehensive settlement of the issue through a collective agreement for terms of employment and also for safety and health issues during their work”.
Two out of three
However, the discussion is still at a very preliminary stage, which is mainly due to the context of the employment of employees – cooperation with platforms through third-party companies. It is common knowledge that regulating their working conditions is a difficult task, since on the one hand, the number of distributors has more than doubled in recent years, and on the other hand, due to the fact that who is ultimately the employer is a murky field (digital platforms, companies fleet management, catering businesses). However, it is noted that two of the three digital platforms do not participate in the consultation process. What is emphasized is the state's responsibility for the safety of workers, who are given a work permit in Cyprus, with the trade unions indicating the need, once they are given a work permit, to check the conditions in which they work and to what extent the safety is ensured. safety and health at work.
Risk Reduction
In the next meetings between the parties, primarily requests and suggestions will be made regarding the security issues of the distributors. Recommendations such as setting a maximum number of trips per day as well as maximizing the delivery time of the product or calculating external conditions that affect the delivery time, such as the traffic load on the roads, are expected to be put on the consultation table. Also expected to be discussed is the scenario of a pre-set delivery minimum wage, which is thought to reduce the number of journeys per delivery person – and therefore the time they spend behind the wheel – and allow food to be delivered at a reasonable time and with more flexibility.
The necessary changes
According to information, subject of consultation with the companies and the labor relations department, a series of issues are expected to be raised regarding the remunerations and salary deductions for issues such as the cost of motor fuels. In particular, the ownership regime for the means of transport used in the distribution of products will be discussed. At the moment each distributor uses his own vehicle – motorized or not – and is responsible for covering at his own expense the refueling as well as the cost of maintenance and fitness checks, without other safety and control barriers.
Another issue is the uniform and personal protective equipment of the distributors, which is currently provided by the companies, however a percentage of the cost is deducted every month from their salary.
It is also expected to discuss the earnings depending on the category and degree of difficulty of each route. At the moment, runs in the midst of severe weather conditions (heavy rain or heat), are paid more than a normal run, which is partially correct. On the other hand, it increases the lure of working in difficult and often dangerous conditions for distributors, as pointed out by the unions. The point is to reduce the risk taken by the distributor in his attempt to secure more salary by undertaking difficult routes which he tries to cover in the shortest possible time.
After Easter in Parliament< /h3>
When it was discussed a year ago, the government had said that it would wait for the European directive and the development in the debate within the EU, the chairman of the Labor Committee of the Parliament Andreas Kavkalias told “K”, pointing out that now is the time to the issue should be revisited so that the positions and intentions of the new government on the issue can be seen. This is a category of workers who are exposed to exploitation by employers and of course without protection in matters of safety and health. After Easter, possibly in the session of April 25 or May 2, the relevant Labor committee is expected to see the working status of distributors in catering and digital product distribution platforms. However, one of the aspects of the issue – that of safety – will be examined next Tuesday (April 4), as part of the Labor Committee's debate on health and safety at work. The special debate on the wider framework of working conditions for distributors – or rather the lack of it – will take place in parliament in about a month.
