Since the new food delivery law took effect, I’ve noticed that what really needs to change isn’t the way riders operate, but rather their approach to risk management.

Last Updated: June 13, 2026| Target Audience: Food delivery riders in Taiwan; readers interested in labor rights

The employment status of food delivery riders in Taiwan has long been in a legal gray area: platforms define riders as “partners” rather than “employees,” making it difficult to fully apply the protections provided by the traditional Labor Standards Act. This article summarizes the current status of food delivery regulations in 2026, the progress of the “Food Delivery Special Act,” and the rights that delivery riders can assert under existing laws.

The Legal Status of Food Delivery Drivers:In Taiwan, foodpanda and Uber Eats partner with delivery riders through “service agreements” rather than “employment contracts.” Under this framework, delivery riders are considered self-employed rather than employees, which has several direct consequences:

Delivery drivers are self-employed, not employees.
The platform is not required to provide workers' compensation or health insurance for delivery drivers.
Protections under the Labor Standards Act—such as overtime pay, annual leave, and severance pay—do not apply.
Delivery drivers set their own work hours and earnings; the platform does not guarantee a minimum income.

The issue is that, in practice, although food delivery riders are defined as self-employed, they are highly dependent on the platform: the platform has complete control over where they receive orders, unilaterally determines their pay structure, and can terminate their accounts at any time. The line between this relationship and traditional “employment” is not clear-cut.

Current Status of the Promotion of the Special Law on Food Delivery (2026):The Taiwanese government and the Legislative Yuan have repeatedly discussed establishing special protective regulations for delivery riders in the platform economy, commonly referred to as the “Delivery Rider Protection Act” or the “Platform Worker Protection Act.” The impetus for this initiative stems primarily from the high incidence of workplace accidents among delivery riders, inadequate existing protections, the rapid growth of the delivery industry and its large workforce, as well as international trends (with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries successively enacting legislation to protect platform workers).

Based on current progress, as of 2026, Taiwan’s dedicated law on food delivery services remains under legislative review and has not yet been formally enacted. The Ministry of Labor has proposed a draft framework, which primarily includes:

Platform operators should provide occupational accident insurance for delivery riders
Delivery Drivers Have the Right to Know (About Dispatch Algorithms and Rating Criteria)
The platform must provide a complaint mechanism
A certain notice period must be given for the mandatory termination of a partnership.

Note:The above outlines the content of the draft bill, which has not yet been enacted into law; therefore, food delivery workers cannot rely on it to assert their current rights. Please refer to official announcements from the Ministry of Labor for updates on the actual legislative progress.

Under current regulations, food delivery riders are actually afforded several protections. The most direct one isWorkers' Compensation Insurance (Already in Effect): Following the 2022 amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, platform operators are required by law to provide insurance coverage for their partner delivery riders.Workers' Compensation Insurance, This is currently the most direct protection that food delivery riders have under the law:

If an accident occurs while performing a delivery assignment, you can apply for workers' compensation benefits.
Includes medical benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits
The premium is covered by the platform (not paid by the delivery driver).

This is the most significant progress made to date in terms of protection, but it is still not equivalent to comprehensive workers' compensation.

In addition, inConsumer Protection ActIn this regard, the contracts between delivery riders and platforms are governed by civil law. If a platform unilaterally amends the terms of the contract, delivery riders have the right to terminate the contract within a certain period. Meanwhile, inPersonal Information Protection ActIn this regard, the platform’s collection of delivery riders’ personal data (location, activity logs) must comply with the Personal Information Protection Act, and delivery riders have the right to access and request the deletion of certain personal data.

So what rights can delivery riders assert now? First of all,Appeal an Account Suspension or Ban. If the platform suspends an account without cause, delivery riders can:

File an appeal through the in-app appeal mechanism
Request an explanation of the reason for the suspension in writing from the platform's customer service
If you have concerns regarding a work-related injury or wrongful termination of your employment, you may consult the Ministry of Labor or the labor bureaus in your county or city.

Next isApplication for a Work-Related Injury Claim. In the event of a traffic accident while performing a delivery:

First, preserve the accident scene, the police report, and the receipts for medical expenses.
Report a work-related accident to the platform to initiate the platform’s workers’ compensation claims process
If any further disputes arise, you may file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Ministry of Labor.

And finally,Tax Filing. Delivery riders' income is classified as self-employment income. The platform provides a withholding tax certificate annually; in case of any disputes, you may contact the tax authorities for clarification.

In addition to advocating for their existing rights, food delivery riders can also take steps to protect themselves in several ways. First,Voluntarily Enrolling in Labor Insurance + National Health Insurance: Enrolling through a labor union provides Labor Insurance coverage for work-related accidents, illness, and old age, as well as National Health Insurance coverage. This is the most effective way to protect yourself under the current system. For more details, see:Complete Guide to Delivery Driver InsuranceThe

Second,Private Accident Insurance: The platform’s workers’ compensation insurance is only valid while you are on the job; accidents that occur while riding after work or during daily life are not covered. We recommend purchasing additional personal accident insurance.

Third,Maintain Income Records: Take screenshots or record your actual income each week to maintain a complete income history; in the event of a labor or tax dispute, your own records are the most important evidence.

Fourth,Understand the Terms of the Contract: Regularly review the “Terms of Service” or “Partnership Agreement” within the app, paying particular attention to sections regarding account termination conditions, bonus settlement rules, and the complaint process. The platform typically notifies users of changes to these terms via in-app notifications; be sure not to ignore these notifications.

Fifth,Join the Delivery Driver Community: Delivery driver communities (such as Facebook groups and LINE groups) are important channels for staying informed about platform policy updates and sharing experiences with filing appeals. When account issues or pay disputes arise, you can learn from other delivery drivers’ real-life experiences in these communities.

Looking at the international picture, the protections afforded to delivery workers in other countries can serve as a reference. InUnited KingdomIn 2021, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers are “workers” (a status between employees and the self-employed) and are entitled to minimum wage and paid time off; food delivery platforms are also facing similar challenges. InEuropean UnionIn 2024, the “Platform Workers Directive” was adopted, stipulating that under certain conditions, platform workers should be presumed to be employees; member states are required to transpose the directive into national law within a few years. As forTrends in Taiwan, While the legislative direction draws on the models of the European Union and the United Kingdom, progress has been slow due to lobbying by platform operators and the complexity of the regulatory framework. Delivery riders should continue to monitor legislative developments to stay informed about potential changes to the protections they may receive.

Regarding the rights of food delivery riders, there are a few common questions that deserve clarification.Can food delivery drivers form a union?Yes. The right of workers in Taiwan to form unions applies to food delivery riders. Currently, several food delivery rider unions have been established; they primarily operate as occupational unions, providing support for enrollment in labor and health insurance programs and collective bargaining.

The platform suspended my account for no reason. What can I do?First, file a complaint through the app, requesting that the platform explain the reason and provide specific allegations. If you believe the suspension was unjustified, you may consult the Labor Bureau of your county or city, or the Ministry of Labor, to find out if there are any dispute resolution channels available.

Are food delivery drivers considered employees under the Labor Standards Act?Currently, Taiwan’s regulatory authorities and courts tend to rule that delivery riders collaborate with platforms as self-employed individuals, meaning that most provisions of the Labor Standards Act do not directly apply to them. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Act already provides clear protections, and legislative trends suggest that further protections are likely to be introduced.

What changes will occur after the Food Delivery Act is passed?Based on the draft’s direction, the most likely changes include: platforms being required to have more transparent grievance mechanisms, delivery riders having the right to know about algorithms, and the obligation to provide advance notice of termination of cooperation. Whether this amounts to full labor protection remains a matter of debate; we will need to wait and see the content of the final legislation.