Food Panda in Myanmar

In the cartoon from last year, JMP effectively portrays the Burmese employee of Food Panda as a victim, symbolizing the delivery workers who are being exploited for the sake of the company's profits. The employee's neck is chained, symbolizing the bondage and entrapment they experience. But more than that, it is being chained to a graph showing an upwards trajectory represents the increasing profits of Food Panda, highlighting how the company's financial gains are prioritized over the well-being and safety of the Burmese delivery people. The cartoon effectively captures the message that the exploitation of these workers is a direct consequence of Food Panda's pursuit of higher profits, putting their lives and livelihoods at risk.

Some background: Food Panda is an online food delivery service that operates in Burma, owned by a German corporation. Last year, the riders went on strike, citing several issues with the company. One of the main concerns is the slashing of rates by Food Panda , which has significantly reduced the compensation for the riders. The riders argue that this reduction is not enough to cover their expenses, especially considering the skyrocketing food prices in the aftermath of the coup.

Furthermore, the riders demand better working conditions, including proper compensation for injuries suffered during working hours, accurate calculation of delivery distances, and the provision of one day off every week. They also claim that Food Panda does not take into account detours taken for security reasons and penalizes riders who take a day off by lowering their internal rankings, resulting in even lower fares.

Indeed, the work environment for Food Panda riders in Burma has become increasingly dangerous, particularly after the coup. The riders have faced challenges such as being stopped and questioned by security forces, and in some cases, they have been beaten or detained. When workers have expressed concerns to Food Panda about this issue, they have responded by cancelling their accounts, to discourage further dissent.

Despite the challenges and protests, Food Panda continues to operate, and some customers still use the app due to its lower delivery fees. However, striking riders have appealed to the public for support, urging customers to boycott the company and give it low ratings on app stores. Labor activists and trade unions are also providing assistance and support to the striking Food Panda workers.