Did the Food Delivery Special Law Fail on Day One? Platforms Allegedly Ignore New Rules and Withhold Pay, People Party Slams Labor Ministry for 'Protecting Companies'

The 'Food Delivery Worker Rights Protection and Platform Management Act' officially took effect on the 21st, stipulating that delivery workers must receive a minimum basic pay of NT$45 per order. However, within half a day of implementation, numerous delivery workers took to Facebook groups to complain that platforms are still applying the old pay structure regardless of delivery distance. Workers lamented increasing waiting times, difficulty securing orders, and having to race to accept jobs. Many reported earning less than NT$200 per hour, with some saying, 'It's better to just stay home and sleep.'

The People Party stated it has received numerous complaints from delivery workers, alleging that platforms are openly ignoring the new law and continuing to calculate pay under the old system—potentially violating the law and unfairly withholding wages. The party demanded the Labor Ministry order platforms to rectify the situation within a set timeframe. However, the ministry refused to set a deadline, instead saying it would 'give platforms a little more time.' The party responded: 'Who will compensate delivery workers for their lost income during this period?'

Under the new law, pay should be calculated from the moment an order is accepted. Deliveries completed within 11 minutes are paid NT$45; beyond 11 minutes, an additional NT$4.1 per minute is added. Yet, delivery workers have shared order screenshots showing platforms are not complying with the new pay rules, failing to display accurate pickup and delivery times, and not separately calculating pay for bundled orders as required.

Workers now face the burden of taking screenshots of every order detail to reconcile at the end of the month, all while monitoring the app and ensuring road safety. This raises concerns about traffic incidents and disputes. If platforms refuse to pay, workers must prove their case—but with incomplete and inconsistent records, how can they?

The People Party slammed the Labor Ministry for its inaction. The ministry said it would only issue penalties 'after two weeks, once underpayment is confirmed.' But with platforms providing incomplete pay records, how can workers prove violations? The ministry added, 'Let’s give platforms a little more time.' Yet the law passed its third reading on January 6—over half a year ago. Platforms swiftly implemented membership fees and promotional campaigns, so why are they dragging their feet on legally mandated wage and time calculations? The party accused the ministry of siding with big platforms instead of protecting workers, sarcastically suggesting it should be renamed the 'Capital Ministry' instead of the 'Labor Ministry.'