There was mild drama in Ibadan on Friday with a massive protest from the Bolt drivers, popularly known as Taxify. The peaceful demonstration was based on agitations about their welfare and readiness to be treated as partners in reference to the conducts of Labour law.
The spokesperson of the drivers, Comrade Michael Olatunji noted that the company’s policies has no regard for their employees and the place they hold in the company’s survival.
In his statement made available to newsmen, he said ” the organization has failed to respect the place of the drivers, as major contributors to the company’s growth. We are treated as animals. They have deliberately fixed the prices at the detriment of the drivers, just for them to lure more customers (riders) without considerations for us.
“Cases reported about stolen vehicles has landed on deaf ears over time. The company has no methods to track down riders whose trips ended badly. Our countless letters to the management over different issues received no attention. In some cases, they even block drivers for pressing demands.
“As regards health and vehicles insurances of the drivers and cars respectively, we need urgent answers. Why should we be treated as slaves? We want a kind of insurance that would work”.
He also noted that “if we are to resume work, they should come in terms with the codes and conducts of the Nigeria Labour Law. Our partnership with Taxify Must be mutual and it should be a slave-master relationship. He concluded.
Another driver, who confided in our reporter lamented that “it is an awful experience with Taxify in my few days as a driver. I could have stayed on my own as an independent driver instead of slaving myself and time here.
