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A group of delivery riders opposes a recent ILO study that claims riders earn an average of P6,704 per week.   Riders-Sentro says the figure does not reflect their real situation and that take-home pay is lower after expenses and that riders receive no employment benefits. Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Riders dispute ILO study on P6,704 average weekly earnings

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE) -- A group of delivery riders expressed strong opposition on Thursday to a recently released study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) stating that most delivery riders earn an average of 6,704 pesos per week. The National Union of Food Delivery Riders (Riders-Sentro), which represents organized riders nationwide, said the findings do not reflect the actual situation of workers and contradict their lived realities, particularly because riders do not earn big and receive employment benefits. Mark Larson Vallejo, organizer-coordinator of Riders-Sentro, explained that when the reported 6,704 pesos weekly income is divided across six working days (with one day off), it amounts to 1,117 pesos per day. However, Vallejo emphasized that this figure does not represent riders’ actual take-home pay. &quot;Mayroon po kaming pinagkakagastusan na le-less po namin yung P300 na gas. P300 po yung gas namin for 12 hours. Yung P1, 117 po kasi na ito is pinagtatrabahuhan po namin ng 12 hours, hindi po sya 8 oras,&quot; he said. After deducting fuel costs, the remaining amount is 817 pesos. Riders also set aside approximately P100 per day for motorcycle maintenance, including tires, oil, bearings, and other parts. In addition, riders spend about P20 per day on mobile phone load for calls and data necessary for work. After all deductions, the net income comes down to P697 for 12 hours of labor. If computed based on a standard eight-hour workday, the average daily income would amount to P464. The group plans to raise awareness on social media, arguing that the study could mislead the public and government agencies into believing riders are earning sufficient income. &quot;Apektadong apektado kami kasi akala ng mga customer, akala ng mga NLRC kung saan nag-file kami ng case before, akala nila ok pala kami eh. Maaapektuhan &#x27;yung case namin eh,&quot; said Lemuel Cabantog, national president of Riders-Sentro. &quot;&#x27;Yung mga bills na i-fa-file ng ating mga congressmen na katulong po namin para magkaroon ng law para sa mga riders at platform workers po, maaapektuhan din po &#x27;yun,&quot; he added. They also warned that platform companies might use the study to justify current labor arrangements. &quot;Pwede po itong abusuhin ng mga company platform na okay naman pala eh. Wala naman pala silang hinaing sa ganitong uri ng hanapbuhay sa ganitong sistema ng trabaho. Baka bababa na ngayon ang delivery fee per delivery lalo pa nilang bababa,&quot; said Elmer Cenita Jr., president of the Rizal chapter of Riders-Sentro. According to the “2025 Platform Work Survey: Philippines” commissioned by ILO from June to December 2025 released on Jan. 29, nearly 90 percent of TNVS riders and drivers who participated in the survey said they have access to health and workplace injury insurance as well as retirement benefits. The study showed that they obtained these benefits through public social insurance, mandatory public social insurance independent of employment, and voluntary contributions. Aside from this, the ILO study said the riders and drivers earn an average of P6,704 net of costs weekly, with some earning P9,800. In a statement released by ILO in the Philippines, they said it only presented preliminary and strictly draft findings of its study on riders and drivers in transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) platforms to representatives of government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and relevant partners for technical validation and dialogue. “Let me be clear: these findings are not final, not endorsed, and not intended to be cited as definitive conclusions. They were shared in the spirit of transparency and tripartite consultation, consistent with the ILO’s mandate and long-standing practice,” the statement read. The organization added that the study remains under active review, noting that the validation process allows stakeholders to question assumptions, clarify context, correct interpretations, and ensure that eventual conclusions are evidence-based, balanced, and grounded in Philippine realities. “No policy recommendations will be advanced without full consideration of stakeholders’ inputs,” it said. The ILO also emphasized its commitment to neutrality, technical rigor, and social dialogue. “The objective is not to pre-judge outcomes, but to support informed discussion and contribute constructively to advancing decent work in the evolving platform economy,” it added.

A group of delivery riders opposed a report saying they earn an average of P6,704 per week.

A group of delivery riders opposed a report saying they earn an average of P6,704 per week.

Delivery riders dispute ILO study on P6,704 average weekly earnings

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Delivery riders dispute ILO study on P6,704 average weekly earnings

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 19, 2026 04:23 PM PHT

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Updated February 19, 2026 08:26 PM PHT

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delivery riders

motorcycle riders

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International Labor Organization

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