Some Bolt Food emails went on strike

Complemented by a comment from the Ministry of Social Security and Labor

Some of them, together with union representatives, picketed in the Plaza de la Catedral in the capital. They protest against the reduction of the service fee for delivery by twenty cents, from 3 to 2.8 euros.

One of the protesters, Vukas Vukotičius, told reporters that “there are around 100 people who want to attack.”

“We demand that the basic rate in Vilnius (2.8 Eur) not only be restored to 3 Eur, but also equal to that which is peaceful in Kaunas – 3.3 Eur,” he said.

According to him, the higher rates applied during peak hours do not comment on the reduced rates, because the number of orders decreased significantly after the end of the quarantine.

The company, meanwhile, emphasizes that couriers choose to work or not themselves, and the hourly rate for them will even increase after the rate adjustment.

Andrius Pacevičius, the head of Bolt in Lithuania, states in a comment sent to BNS that after reducing the basic rate of the Bolt Food courier from EUR 3 to EUR 2.8, the rate during peak hours increased to EUR 3.7, having reached previously EUR 3.5.

“This means that the average hourly wage for mails will not decrease, but will instead increase,” says Bolt’s boss.

According to him, the changes were introduced to ensure the optimal provision of services, especially during peak hours, and to allow mails to receive a competitive income.

“As the number of orders grows and to ensure efficient service delivery, we are constantly expanding the messaging network. The innovations introduced are likely to increase the strength of the messaging service during peak hours, when customers need more. their services, “says A. Pacevičius.

The company says it cannot yet say how Wednesday’s picket will affect orders. They say they only found out about the picket through the media.

Bolt emphasizes that the emails are not Bolt employees, but associate drivers who work individually and choose when and how much to work.

“Hundreds of emails use this platform.” Bolt Food is an equal opportunity platform for all catering establishments that wish to connect and deliver their prepared foods to customers at home, as well as for all individuals who wish to provide services. of food courier, “says A. Pacevičius.

For its part, the Lithuanian Confederation of Trade Unions (LPSK) supports the Bolt Food courier strike.

“First, it’s cynical to cut people’s incomes, especially those who were in the front row during quarantine. Second, we must stop romanticizing those supposedly alternative forms of work that are said to free people from fixed working hours. The truth is that these types of employees are especially vulnerable because they work without employment contracts and do not have the rights and social guarantees that belong to the employees, “says Inga Ruginienė, President of LPSK.

He asked other employees of digital platforms to do the same, following the example of Bolt Food emails, adding that European workers’ organizations were increasingly talking about the need for proper regulation of such platforms at EU level. .

“The courts in France, Britain and the US have already made decisions indicating this during e. People” employed “on the platforms should consider themselves employees and receive social security related to this state,” says I. Ruginienė.

SADM says it has so far received no complaints about digital work platforms.

At that time, the Ministry of Social Security and Labor (SADM) says that so far it has not received any complaints about the regulation of such digital work platforms.

“Until now, employees of digital employment platforms have never approached the ministry and said they were not satisfied with the current regulation of activities and that they would like and would seek a change. The Ministry of Social Security and Labor is always ready to listen and look for solutions. Upon receiving a request from a Seimas member, the sector’s problems will be reviewed, “the ministry states in its response to BNS.

According to her, upon receiving the appeal, she would seek solutions that would improve the situation of these workers.

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, employees of non-standard work platforms like Bolt or others work independently in Lithuania, therefore their social security is guaranteed in the same way as for other people working in this way.

This means that they are not linked to the work platform by an employment relationship and have to resolve any dispute through the courts.

“Since the relations of the employees of digital employment platforms with the founders of the platforms are regulated by the Civil Code, the State Labor Inspectorate does not have the possibility of helping to resolve disputes, its competence is to supervise the labor relations of according to the Labor Code, “said the ministry.

Reproduction of information from the BNS news agency in the media and on websites without the written consent of UAB “BNS” is prohibited.

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