The ministry said it had met riders this week to get feedback on the issue, and will also be meeting Foodpanda’s management today.

“The ministry always pays attention and emphasis to ensure the welfare and protection of those in gig economies,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the issue would also be raised at the next Cabinet meeting.

Foodpanda had claimed that the new payment scheme would boost the income of riders outside the Klang Valley.

However, on Sunday, more than 100 Foodpanda riders protested against the new scheme in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

A spokesman for the protesters, Erwin Omar, said although riders get RM7 for each order, they will not be paid for the hours they work.

Under the old scheme, they received RM5 per order, and RM4 for each working hour, as well as an extra RM1 for every working hour during weekends.

The payment ranged from RM5 to RM3 in a hierarchy of Batch 1-5, while in the new scheme, the payment ranges between RM7 and RM4.50 for Batches 1 to 6.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has invited Foodpanda riders to his home tonight to discuss the matter.

He has also extended the invitation to Foodpanda’s management.