The Taiwan Delivery Industry Union Alliance and Uber Eats Taiwan have announced they will work together to draft a regulatory framework proposal that aims to provide reasonable basic protection and benefits for independent contractor delivery partners, both parties said today in a joint statement.

With the support of the Alliance, Uber Eats is taking the lead in Taiwan in advocating for a regulatory regime for delivery gig workers. This will be the first of such dedicated framework to govern the growing delivery industry, and is expected to have a positive impact on delivery people and the sector as a whole.

The Alliance and Uber Eats met formally for the first time on November 15. Both will endeavor to jointly propose a regulatory framework for the new government’s consideration after it is inaugurated in May 2024.

The design of the regulatory framework will rest on three aligned principles to balance the basic protection and benefits of delivery gig workers and the industry’s business sustainability:

  1. Safeguard the freedom, flexibility and independence of delivery gig workers.
  2. The regulatory framework should apply to delivery partners nationwide
  3. Uniform applicability to the delivery industry and to serve as industry baseline.

The Alliance and Uber Eats have reached preliminary consensus for the framework to include, but not limited to, the following elements:

  1. A minimum earning standard
  2. Basic benefits and protections that are suitable for independent contractor gig workers
  3. A review of delivery gig worker’s platform-account deactivation process

The Taiwan Delivery Industry Union Alliance consists of National Delivery Industry Union, Taoyuan City Internet Platform Delivery Worker Occupational Union, Hsinchu City Platform Delivery Worker Occupational Union, Taichung City Delivery Platform Service Industry Union, Changhua County Internet Platform Courier Occupational Union, Kaohsiung City Delivery Industry Union Preparatory Office, and Pingtung County Delivery Worker Occupational Union,. The Alliance aims to protect delivery workers’ basic rights and interests on the foundation of freedom and flexibility, through mobilization and consolidation of delivery workers.

The first meeting marked a good start and milestone for  delivery partners and the industry. More meetings are expected to bring the framework to life BEFORE MAY 2024.