(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fazeena Saleem |
The Peninsula
Food delivery companies and restaurants have restructured their service process after the government restricted motorcycle delivery during peak heat hours in a bid to ensure safety of delivery riders.
According to the Ministry of Labour's declaration, delivery riders must use only cars from 10am to 3:30pm to ensure their wellbeing during the hot summer months.
The order is effective from July 1 and will remain in place until September 15. The measure is also in line with the Ministerial Decree No. 17 of 2021, which extended the legal working hours in outdoor spaces from June 1 to September 15, during which outdoor work is prohibited from 10am to 3:30pm.
Since the new regulation took effect, delivery companies and restaurants have deployed more cars to ensure compliance. They have voluntarily advanced the delivery time, with customers being informed of a tentative delay in food delivery. The service providers have also proposed and facilitated pre-order placements.
“We welcome this change,” Vishal Taneja, Manager, Delivery Services at Nando's Qatar, told The Peninsula.“It has further ensured the safety of delivery riders. Nando's is a brand about and for people, we are not only about our product. It's about the people who make the food, and we have always taken care of our staff.”
Before the new rule, Nando's Qatar provided delivery through bikes and cars. With the new directive, the business has swiftly adopted new measures.
“We stopped all bike riders from delivery from 9.45am. We have staff that ride bikes but also have car driving licences. Now they are being assigned to deliver by car. We have also outsourced some cars. After hygiene check, we use those vehicles for delivery, but our staff will accompany those drivers to ensure smooth and professional service to customers,” added Taneja.
Other options Nando's Qatar offers are informing their customers about a possible delay and allowing them to pre-order.
On the other hand, Talabat, one of the biggest food delivery service providers in the region, also notifies their customers that between 10am to 3.30pm, delivery will be exclusively by car.
Azan, a Talabat delivery rider, lauded the new regulation.“When available even before 10am and after 3.30pm, we deliver by cars. It's really helping us to keep safe and healthy,” he said.
At the time of the announcement of the new rule, Talabat posted a statement on its social media applauding the move.“We welcome initiatives that ensure rider wellbeing, especially during summer, and will continue collaborating with the government to ensure their requirements are always met,” the statement read.
Thilaka Manjula, Managing Director, Well On Restaurant, said,“The new rule is a timely measure. Abiding by it, during peak summer times we use three cars. We encourage customers to make orders in advance, so we can plan the delivery routes and deliver on time.”
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