• Says union is registered by NLC under informal sector
•Uber announces increase in fares
E-hailing drivers under the auspices of Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) has said they will be meeting with the Ministry of Labour on Monday, June 26, to deliberate on several issues bedeviling the sector.
The union was scheduled to meet with the ministry on Tuesday, but got a notification that the meeting has been rescheduled for Monday. To this end, the proposed strike by the union is being suspended until the meeting is held.
Meanwhile, Uber Nigeria has announced an increase in fares to help drivers cover the recent increase in fuel costs and inflation rate. Uber, in a statement attributed to Country Manager for Uber in Nigeria, Tope Akinwumi, said the fare adjustment is designed to help drivers cover rising operating costs and is part of the ongoing efforts to support their driver community.
“Drivers are at the heart of everything we do, and we continue to work on initiatives and engage with drivers to help make Uber the app of choice for drivers while maintaining an affordable service for riders.
“Following an in-depth review of the current fuel subsidy removal, Uber updated fares on June 3 and 9 on the app to reflect existing economic conditions.
“We believe these changes have helped better support drivers in increasing their earning opportunities. Furthermore, we lowered the service fee in February 2022 from 25 per cent to 20 per cent to help enable better-earning opportunities for drivers.
“We want the best for drivers who operate on the Uber platform and frequently engage with them directly through roundtables, surveys, phone, and in-app channels to better understand and receive feedback on the realities they face in their businesses,” Akinkunmi said.
The company also said that it is constantly monitoring local dynamics to see what changes can be implemented and when. Uber also said that its service fee ensures the running of the Uber App and helps it maintain and make continuous investments to enhance its technology designed to meet the needs of riders and drivers.
The company claimed that drivers on its platform earn more than other ride-hailing platforms in Nigeria. In a statement obtained by The Guardian, a National Ex-officio and Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee, Jossy Adaraniwon, confirmed this. “We understand the challenges and multiplier effect that the over 300 per cent hike in the pump price of petrol has caused on service delivery. This has, in turn, created a burden of over 200 per cent loss on earnings, poor living style and capacity, over 100 per cent long-hour work, lack of motivation and low morale towards work, aggression and low-quality service, poor customer service among others.
“As an organised union, we can justify our resolution on various demands presented to the app companies for implementation after a thorough examination and complaints from members, three weeks after the subsidy on petrol was removed. As a result of this, our demand for 200 per cent fare increase, 50 per cent reduction in commission, minimum fare of 2000, recognition of union for collective bargaining, five per cent fare discount for passengers, adequate profiling of passengers (KYC) and unlawful deactivation of members account and so on, are open for negotiation and we will not back down until we get the best for our members, since the app companies exercise power over them,” he said.
“It is also important to state categorically that Uber and Bolt’s objection that AUATWONS are not their workers and the attempted lobby is already affecting the issuance of AUATWON certificates as against the thorough and diligent effort of the Labour Ministry that gave birth to the union registration, which was clearly emphasised by the former minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, during the presentation of an approval letter to the union’s president,” he added.
He noted that today, the union is breaking new ground with those in the informal sector who are employing themselves and others. “We considered necessary factors, especially the global move, which is sponsored mostly by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to formalise the informal sector that has most of the working population in the world of work, characterised and independent owned-account workers.”
He said the union is under the informal sector and shall not allow any app company, irrespective of their financial muscle, to deny members their fundamental right to associate to protect their job and welfare.
He called on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Civil Society and Human Rights activists to stand up in solidarity with them and resist anti-workers objection by Uber and Bolt, which he claimed is inflicting untold hardship on them.
Efforts to get across to Uber, Bolt and Lagride to get their side of the story proved abortive, as emails sent to them were not responded to, at the time of filling this report.
