"Hungry Panda delivery rider launches legal action against company claiming loss of work after protesting pay," 30 Jan 2024

A delivery rider for Hungry Panda is launching legal action against the company over claims she was denied work on the app for promoting protest activity over pay and safety.

Zhuoying Wang used TikTok and WeChat to promote a stop-work meeting in Sydney... Wang alleges that during the protest she received no orders on the app.

A table of Wang’s orders... show that during the 10-hour days she worked, she completed between 30 to 70 orders per shift, but this dropped down to zero around the protest and in the days following.

...Wang would file a case with the Fair Work Commission alleging a breach of section 346 of the Fair Work Act, which protects workers from adverse action for engaging in industrial activity.

The company in 2021 allegedly kicked off two workers from its platform after organising a protest against rate cuts. It reportedly claimed it was due to customer and restaurant complaints but the two drivers were later restored on the platform.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Hungry Panda said the company supports delivery riders’s rights to express concerns and engage in lawful protests.

“We are diligently investigating Ms Wang’s claims to ensure our platform maintains fairness and transparency,” the spokesperson said. “In the light of concern, we want to clarify that Ms Wang’s account has always stayed active, and is still currently active hence her ability to accept orders is not restricted.”

The [Transport Workers] Union called on the Senate to pass law reforms guaranteeing minimum standards for the gig economy industry as soon as possible.