LTFRB eyes 'minimum working

hours' for Grab, Uber drivers

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada says this will ensure that the
ride-hailing services fulfill their duty to serve the public, and deter
the practice of operating only when surge prices are high

Rambo Talabong

Published 12:36 PM, July 27, 2017

Updated 3:14 PM, August 03, 2017

MINIMUM WORK HOURS. LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada says

providing public service means having fixed hours of work. Photo by Rambo
Talabong/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and

Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Thursday, July 27, that it is
"seriously considering" setting "minimum" working hours for Grab
and Uber drivers.
In a press briefing, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said the
LTFRB qualifies transport network vehicle service (TNVS)
providers as "public service" so they should observe a minimum
number of hours on the road – just like government workers – to
fulfill that duty.
"So if ever we will grant franchises, [there should be a] minimum
number of hours na dapat online kayo. Kasi kung bibigyan kayo ng
prangkisa, pero two hours a week lang kayo babiyahe, sayang.
Bibigay na lang natin sa iba 'yung prangkisa," Lizada said.
(So if we will grant franchises, [there should be a] minimum
number of hours that they need to be online. Because if we will
give franchises, but they will only work for two hours a week, it
would be a waste. It would be better to give the franchise to other
operators.)
The board member said the measure will help regulate the drivers
of TNVS operators, as there are currently 42,000 Grab and Uber
drivers plying the roads.
Imposing minimum working hours, Lizada said, would also
respond to a recently-revealed practice of Grab and Uber drivers
who only go on the road "when surge prices are high."
Currently, Grab classifies drivers as part-time if they stay on the
roads below 40 hours a week, and full-time if they clock higher
hours.
Uber, for its part, classifies drivers as "casual drivers" if they
operate below 10 hours, part-time if below 40, and full-time if
above 40.
The LTFRB bared the plan a day after its second technical working
group meeting with Grab and Uber on Wednesday, July 26. On
Wednesday, the agency announced that it ordered the deactivation
of drivers who registered with Grab and Uber after June 30, 2017.
Lizada said they hope to be done with the meetings by September
2017, and produce memorandum circulars to fix the regulation
deadlock. After that, the LTFRB plans to consult with Congress for
a comprehensive law regulating the ride-hailing services.
There are bills filed in both houses of Congress seeking to regulate
TNVS providers.
The transport network companies had earlier filed motions for
reconsideration to delay the implementation of the LTFRB's order
issued last July 7, which instructed both TNCs to purge drivers
without adequate documents. – Rappler.com