The city is more livable from the stops

Rest stop with hammocks for motorbike taxi drivers to rest - Photo: XUAN DOAN

Last week, a series of policies and proposals that advocated for the rights of workers and the disadvantaged received almost absolute public support, just like the cheers after the news of four stops in the middle of the city for technology drivers that were launched one after another in the past two months.

It has been more than 10 years since the birth of ride-hailing technology, technology drivers have gradually replaced traditional motorbike taxis; the way to book a ride, pay, use the service, manage, driver-customer relationship... all have changed.

But what hasn't changed is the image of a driver at noon, propping his bike up under a tree, lying on the saddle, arms crossed over his chest, tiredly taking a short nap.

What hasn’t changed is that during the hot and rainy days, people can easily see the blue and yellow shirts of technology drivers gathering under an awning, under an overpass, or in a corner of a park during a break. What hasn’t changed is that their job is still “when you sweat, you run out of money”, with no promise of compensation for a hard day…

Everyone sees that, so everyone is happy to see this coffee shop set aside a budget to invite shippers to drink, that restaurant organizes a wall-mounted rice plate to invite drivers and freelance workers, and is even happier when these acts of kindness are no longer spontaneous but have developed into organized activities such as rest stops organized by the technology driver union and the labor federation.

From now on, drivers will have a real place to rest and return to. There are chairs, hammocks, toilets; water, food; colleagues and friends; the Internet, useful information about security, job opportunities, education; a place to repair vehicles, a place to learn how to protect themselves...

"Very practical, very meaningful", even if you are not a technology driver, everyone will exclaim like that when hearing the description.

How could it not be practical when the first person to implement this model was a technology driver who clearly understood the fatigue in his arms and back muscles, clearly understood the need to lie down and take a nap after many tiring trips, clearly understood the "loneliness online" on his wandering path to make a living.

From the first location held at a driver's family's coffee shop, the labor union stepped in and after just two months, three more locations were established and will move towards having at least one location in each district.

Surely that will soon be achieved when the organization and maintenance are not too complicated but the practical effects and social significance are very large, easily receiving the support and cooperation of all individuals and organizations.

The humanity of a society is measured through its policies and treatment of the disadvantaged, and today, with crowded stops and drivers in green and yellow shirts, Ho Chi Minh City is becoming more and more livable.

New policies are being formulated to further protect workers who, although not in the civil service, still contribute every day to a more prosperous and better society.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thanh-pho-dang-song-hon-tu-nhung-diem-dung-chan-20240623075157385.htm