What Happened
Nearly 4,000 delivery riders in Panama have remained off the road for 72 hours in a work stoppage organized by the Asociación de Motorizados de Panamá. The group says the protest responds to unilateral reductions in income tied to a new payment model used by a delivery platform.
The motorizados say the dispute centers on a system that changes earnings based on performance metrics. According to their representatives, the new method has created unequal pay among riders and was imposed with little room for negotiation.
Why Riders Are Protesting
Pedro Reyes, an adviser to the group, said the platform introduced what he described as a “group system” that separates riders into different tiers depending on their ratings and delivery performance. Under that arrangement, earnings can vary significantly from one rider to another.
Reyes argued that contract changes should be discussed before they take effect. He said riders should be notified in advance rather than being told to accept new conditions within a short period of time.
Riders from areas such as Panamá Norte and Panamá Oeste also say the payment structure punishes them for refusing deliveries in dangerous neighborhoods. If a rider declines an order in a so-called red zone to protect personal safety, the group says that decision lowers the rider’s metrics and can push them into a lower-paying category.
Economic Impact and Labor Tensions
The stoppage has affected a large share of the delivery fleet, with the group saying 97% of riders have joined the action. The disruption has also cut into an estimated 65,000 daily orders that would normally be processed and billed.
Some users have criticized the disruption to traffic and daily services, while the riders insist their action is peaceful and should not be treated as a strike. They describe the measure as a “cese de operaciones,” or work stoppage, meant to pressure for better terms and clearer labor protections.
Call for Government Mediation
The association has called on the Ministry of Labor, known as Mitradel, to step in as a mediator. The dispute highlights broader tensions around platform-based work in Panama, where delivery riders say they need stronger rules to protect earnings, safety, and working conditions.
As delivery apps continue to play a larger role in urban commerce, the conflict underscores how changes to digital payment systems can quickly affect thousands of workers and the businesses that depend on them.