The dark side of technology driver profession

Most technology drivers and delivery people in the world suffer from severe sleep deprivation and are often chased away and discriminated against by security guards, police, and landlords.

The US newspaper Rest of World talked to technology car drivers, delivery staff and cleaners on apps in 10 major cities in Asia, Africa and America to learn about the working conditions of these people.

Thirty percent of those interviewed said they were not given breaks between trips. More than 50 percent said they were regularly denied access to public places such as shopping malls and restaurants. Nearly all reported being turned away on a daily basis.

Many tech shippers in major cities around the world can only rest on the sidewalk while waiting for their next order. Illustration photo: ROW

Sophia Ibrahim Gedo, a ride-hailing driver in Nairobi, Kenya, recounted a time when she needed to go to the bathroom while driving a passenger. Normally, the female driver stops at a gas station, shopping mall or a restaurant along the way to use the restroom. But that day, the restroom doors were locked. The passenger also had urgent business, so Gedo had to hold it in and continue her journey. "It was the longest trip I've ever had. I felt like I couldn't hold it in any longer," said the nearly 40-year-old female driver.

Tech-based taxi drivers like Gedo typically work 10-12 hours a day to make ends meet. When they take passengers to familiar destinations, they look for places that meet basic needs such as toilets, food, and rest. Many also have a map of places where they can stop and rest.

Platforms like Grab, inDrive and iFood are helping to build stops and lounges for employees. But few workers have access to these places.

"Most drivers don't get enough rest and sleep very little," said Tobias Kuttler, who is involved in the project at the Oxford Internet Institute and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center in Germany. "I've seen people working an average of 17 hours a day. They are constantly sleep deprived, in poor health and on painkillers."

There are nearly 435 million contract workers globally and Rest of World 's survey shows that taking time off is a luxury for them.

Wallace Miguel, a delivery man for iFood and Lalamove in São Paulo, Brazil, can only take a break when the chef is preparing food for customers. Here, the restaurant provides a bench and drinks to help the 22-year-old delivery man feel more comfortable.

Meanwhile, Basil Faraz, a driver for a food delivery app in Pakistan, said he only rests when he is allowed to. His resting spot is a rock, under a tree on the sidewalk - where many other delivery workers are also stopping.

"I can't go inside an air-conditioned shopping mall to rest. Just seeing me go in there, the security guard will say 'go away'," Faraz said.

Glovo delivery workers rest under a tree in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: ROW

In countries like Kenya, the law prohibits delivery drivers from working more than eight hours a day. Many drivers circumvent the law by signing up for multiple apps to boost their income, often working up to 19 hours a day. But this comes with many risks, one of which is not getting enough rest.

Julius King'ori, a South African ride-hailing driver, admitted that working 14 hours a day was dangerous for himself and his customers. The 45-year-old said he hoped to get more rest but continued working because of the cost of living.

To maximize their time on the road, some ride-hailing drivers like Julius don’t go home at the end of the day. Instead, they sleep in their cars at Jomo Jenyatta International Airport, use the free showers and are ready to go when they have a passenger.

“The best thing the apps can do is adjust the pay so that we workers can rest comfortably,” said one delivery driver.

Of the 104 freelancers surveyed, 36 said they slept no more than six hours a night. Nearly half had been harassed or robbed while on vacation. The majority of those attacked were women.

Angela Chukunzira, a labor researcher at the Ukombozi Library in Kenya, said some female Uber drivers struggle to find places to change their sanitary napkins during work hours. They even have to pay to use the bathrooms in some shopping malls. This becomes a problem and adds to the cost for workers.

IFood delivery drivers take a break at a support point provided by the company in São Paulo. Photo: ROW

In recent times, many shippers have had to create their own spaces, where they can use the restrooms at their discretion and have a safe place to rest. For example, in Jakarta, Indonesia, drivers have set up dozens of makeshift huts made of wood and canvas to chat and eat while waiting for orders.

Faced with this situation, some platforms have stepped up with rest areas for female workers. One of them is InDrive’s lounge for drivers in Jakarta. The company representative said that one of the management unit’s missions is to address injustice in the ride-hailing industry. Meanwhile, Grab has operated three lounges in Jakarta, providing many essential amenities such as wifi, prayer rooms, motorbike repair shops, hair salons, and more. The app also has an “anti-fatigue safety” feature to remind drivers to take a break if they have been driving for long hours.

Or in São Paulo, the food delivery platform iFood has deployed more than 170 points to support water and toilets for shippers. Areas with accommodation or amenities such as microwaves and charging ports are not yet deployed.

But for delivery workers like Philip Saheed in India, he wants to work more instead of finding a place to stay because he wants to increase his income.

"The only thing I hope for is to be given better working conditions and avoid being treated unfairly like I am now," said the 20-year-old man.

Minh Phuong (According to Rest of World)

Source: https://vnexpress.net/goc-khuat-nghe-tai-xe-cong-nghe-4730943.html