ANGKASama Ka Ba Talaga? Exploring the Organizational Identification of App-based Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Metro Manila

Abstract

App-based motorcycle taxi drivers are nonprofessional gig workers subjected to a precarious work setup. This exploratory study looked into how app-based motorcycle taxi drivers in Metro Manila experience organizational identification, focusing on Angkas drivers as a case. Anchored on the Social Identity Theory, the study examined the way drivers perceive themselves and their organization, their experiences while navigating organizational identification, and how they enacted this identification. Employing an interpretive qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve Angkas drivers. Thematic analysis revealed that drivers’ organizational identification is shaped by their perception of the organization, where positive perceptions foster identification while negative experiences weaken identification. Nonetheless, in spite of the informal and precarious nature of their work, drivers still derive value, meaning, and dignity from their work, showing signs of identification. Those who expressed identification with Angkas engaged in cooperative behaviors with fellow drivers and followed organizational norms on road safety. The study shows how organizational identification is still possible in nontraditional and nonprofessional gig work like app-based motorcycle taxi driving, characterized by its informal, precarious, and hazardous nature. However, professional identification may be more relevant than organizational identification for these drivers.