Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Friday, Dec 27, 2024

Hong Kong food deliverers say Meituan firm’s terms similar to existing operators

Hong Kong food deliverers say Meituan firm’s terms similar to existing operators

Drivers for Foodpanda and Deliveroo, which dominate market, not optimistic over chances of success for mainland China giant.

Hong Kong’s food delivery drivers have said they are not impressed by the job terms offered by mainland China’s Meituan looking to take a bite out of the city’s lucrative sector.

Some food delivery workers on Tuesday said Meituan’s employment terms were similar to those offered by Hong Kong companies and its chances of success were slim.

Aamir Paracha, who has delivered for Hong Kong’s Foodpanda for seven years, said he was “disappointed” with Meituan’s hiring plans because they proposed to recruit on a freelance basis, in line with existing operators Foodpanda and Deliveroo.

“Every one of us is working,” the 42-year-old said. “Either we want to work with a company that is paying us more or whichever company is giving us more benefits.

“If their payment scheme and benefits scheme is the same as Foodpanda and Deliveroo, then obviously we will think about it and we will go with the company where we can do more orders.”

Meituan says it will offer workers bonuses for each order they complete in their first 14 days.

But Paracha predicted it was unlikely Meituan would drum up more orders than its competitors because it was a new player in the city market.

He was speaking after Meituan signalled a move into Hong Kong, where it will go head-to-head with the city’s big two.

Dennis Paw, a 23-year-old delivery rider with Foodpanda and rival Deliveroo, said Meituan’s offer was not attractive and agreed its prospects of taking a significant market share were slim.

“The business for takeaway deliveries will not suddenly be better if Meituan comes here,” he insisted. “Those who order deliveries will continue to do so, while those who don’t will still refuse to do it.”

Paw added the company’s incentives were not attractive and he suspected they might adjust them over time, as other companies had.

Meituan on Monday said workers would be offered bonus increases on a progressive scale for each order they completed in their first 14 days, with the total amount going up to HK$2,500 (US$319).

“As a brand new delivery platform, there are a lot of prizes just waiting for you to claim,” the company said on its page on instant messaging service Telegram.

The company also gave a brief description of its recruitment requirements and payment calculations, but no details on the total income drivers could expect, the number of workers needed or when Meituan would launch in the city.

The company said workers’ income would be based on delivery fees, rewards and group awards and added payment would depend on the delivery region, time, weather and distance travelled.

Employees will also be able to choose between working at any time or booking slots in advance, with payment and chances of receiving orders higher for the second option.

The company said it would also offer rewards for “active” workers and special holidays.

Riders and foot couriers will be required to have the right to work in Hong Kong and a smartphone with a camera.

Foodpanda and Deliveroo dominate Hong Kong’s food delivery market.


The food delivery market in Hong Kong has been dominated by Foodpanda and Deliveroo after Uber’s exit in 2021. Meituan considered entering Hong Kong as early as 2018, but dropped the idea due to operational problems.

Deliveroo said competition was a “driving force for innovation” and added the “needs, well-being and personal development” of their riders was the firm’s top priority.

“Among our benefits, we provide free insurance protection, discounts towards daily living expenses such as fuel and food catering, as well as a comprehensive suite of upskilling initiatives,” Deliveroo said.

Foodpanda said it also welcomed new players in the market and that healthy competition led to more options for consumers, couriers and vendors.

“Customer demand towards delivery services is ever-changing, thus the introduction of a new player at this time is particularly encouraging, reflecting the continued potential for food and grocery delivery platforms in Hong Kong,” it said.

Foodpanda added it had mechanisms to “maintain and improve” the competitiveness of its couriers, with measures in place to support them, as well as regular reviews of its personal accidental insurance.

Meituan declined to comment on its expansion and recruitment plans in Hong Kong.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
0:00
0:00
Close
It's always the people with the dirty hands pointing their fingers
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
San Francisco car crash
This camera man is a genius
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
Next level gaming
BMW driver…
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
×