Delivery Special Law Takes Effect Today—Will Wait Times Increase? Wang Shih-Chien Exposes the Grim Reality of 'Grab’s Acquisition of foodpanda': Guess Who the Major Shareholder Is

The so-called 'Delivery Rider Protection Act'—officially named the 'Delivery Rider Rights Protection and Platform Management Act'—officially took effect today (21st), stipulating that delivery riders must receive a minimum base pay of NT$45 per order. Consumers, however, are concerned whether delivery fees will rise and wait times will lengthen.

On the issue of rider rights, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wang Shih-Chien held a press conference this morning with representatives from the National Delivery Industry Union (Delivery Union) and the Delivery Industry Rights Promotion Alliance. They strongly opposed Southeast Asian delivery and ride-hailing giant Grab’s application to acquire foodpanda’s Taiwan operations, urging the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to legally reject the deal. 'We must not allow the delivery behemoth to succeed!'

Regarding Grab’s proposed acquisition of foodpanda Taiwan, Wang Shih-Chien and union representatives presented four key demands, calling on the FTC to prioritize public interest and defend the final line of fair competition in Taiwan’s delivery market. The demands are as follows:

- Reject Market Monopoly: Uphold fair competition mechanisms in Taiwan’s market. - Protect Tripartite Rights: Safeguard the livelihoods of consumers, merchants, and delivery riders. - FTC Must Take a Firm Stance: Conduct rigorous legal review and directly reject the merger. - Safeguard National Security: Strictly regulate cross-border data governance and personal information protection.

With the implementation of the Delivery Special Law, delivery riders are now guaranteed a minimum base pay of NT$45 per order. Additionally, their service hours must meet a wage standard of at least 1.25 times the minimum wage.

Consumers are concerned whether delivery platforms will raise prices again. Prior to the law’s implementation, foodpanda stated that compliance could increase per-order costs by 30% to 50%. Uber Eats has already announced that, in response to the new law, merchant service fees will rise to 3%, and its annual membership subscription will increase to NT$1,990—about a 66% hike—due to 'new benefits.' Last week, the Delivery Union questioned on Facebook how platforms can simultaneously advertise high hourly wages while claiming skyrocketing costs.

Regarding Grab’s acquisition of foodpanda Taiwan, after months of supplementary documentation, the FTC formally accepted the case last month, with a decision expected by the end of this month.

Wang Shih-Chien pointed out in a social media post after the press conference that Uber had just announced an acquisition agreement with foodpanda’s parent company, only for Grab to now apply for foodpanda Taiwan’s operations. The key issue, he noted, is that 'Uber is actually Grab’s largest shareholder,' suggesting this may be a 'left hand to right hand' transfer within the same interest group, potentially leading to de facto monopoly in Taiwan’s delivery market.

He recalled that Uber’s attempt to acquire foodpanda Taiwan last year failed, and now it appears to be making a comeback under a different name. 'Beware of platform exploitation and protect Taiwanese consumers’ personal data!'

Wang cited a report from the Institute for Information Industry (III), which ranked Grab lowest in merger eligibility, with 'anti-competitive harms' far outweighing 'overall economic benefits.' Therefore, the FTC must not allow monopolistic backdoors by merely imposing 'conditions.'

He emphasized that Taiwan’s delivery market has an annual output exceeding NT$100 billion, with current platforms charging merchants 30% to 38% commissions. If the market becomes a single interest bloc, consumer discounts will vanish, merchant fees will keep rising, and delivery riders will lose bargaining power.

At the meeting, cybersecurity experts also warned that Grab previously collaborated technologically with Huawei’s ecosystem, posing national security risks. If delivery, payment, and ride-hailing data are integrated across platforms, Taiwanese citizens’ personal data and digital sovereignty will face severe threats.