TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor has proposed a law setting a minimum hourly wage for food delivery workers, with Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Monday assuring consumers that delivery prices will not rise as a result.

In a morning interview with Pop Radio, Hung said that with over 100,000 delivery workers currently in Taiwan, the ministry cannot ignore their labor rights, per CNA. He noted that delivery platforms use digital algorithms to manage work and schedules, leaving workers relatively disadvantaged and in need of legal protections.

Hung, who describes himself as a frequent user of delivery services, said that the draft law addresses the relationships among platforms, delivery workers, restaurants, and consumers. Because platforms sometimes arbitrarily reduce pay, the minimum wage is intended as a basic protection rather than a legally mandated pay increase.

He explained that pay rates for delivery platforms range from NT$270 (US$8.57) to NT$290 per hour. The draft law sets the minimum at 1.25 times next year’s minimum wage of NT$196, which equals NT$245 per hour, still lower than what platforms currently pay, so consumers need not worry about delivery price increases.

Hung added that delivery work differs from typical part-time jobs, as workers bear the costs of scooter depreciation, fuel, and waiting time. The minimum hourly wage was calculated using a formula provided by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and it will be adjusted in tandem with future minimum wage increases.