New Regulations Coming for the 2 Million Strong Delivery Rider Workforce
New regulations regarding the two million motorcycle couriers across Turkey are set to be implemented. A professional competency certificate will be mandatory for couriers, and employment will require a clean criminal record.
Professional Competency and Criminal Record Requirement According to reports, significant regulations for motorcycle couriers are planned as a result of efforts by the Ministry of Interior and the Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK). These new regulations aim to protect motorcycle couriers and ensure public safety. A protocol with the Professional Competency Authority will introduce the obligation for couriers to obtain a professional competency certificate. Additionally, couriers must have a clean criminal record, which aims to enhance their reliability.
The planned regulations also stipulate that it will be necessary to document which organizations couriers work for. If a courier is found with products belonging to an entity or individual different from the one they are employed by, penalties will be imposed. This situation will enable the registration and oversight of couriers.
What About Social Security? The new regulations also encompass social security for motorcycle couriers. Couriers working under a self-employed model will be required to sign contracts of at least one year with the companies, such as food, e-commerce, and logistics firms, that they provide services to. These contracts aim to ensure that their social security is provided by the companies they work with. Consequently, the protection of couriers' social security rights and retirement rights will be guaranteed.
While these regulations aim to make the professional lives of motorcycle couriers safer and more sustainable, they also target the prevention of unfair gains and the reduction of tax losses in the sector.
The End of "Instant Jobs" Murat Tomris, President of the Motorcycle Drivers Federation (MOSEF), stated that the number of motorcycle couriers in Turkey has reached two million, both registered and unregistered. Emphasizing the necessity of legal regulations to make such a large sector safer, Tomris highlighted the importance of the criminal record requirement. He noted that many individuals released from prison prioritize motorcycle courier jobs.
Tomris also mentioned the serious issues related to drug trafficking in recent times. He stated that drug lords knowingly or unknowingly have motorcycle couriers in corporate attire transporting drugs. He expressed that strict security measures must be taken to prevent this situation and stressed that fundamental changes in the sector are essential.