Government concerned about platform workers without basic job protections, to convene advisory committee – Mothership.SG

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An advisory committee will be convened to consider strengthening protections for platform workers, especially delivery men, private hire car (PHV) drivers and taxi drivers, and ensure they have a more balanced relationship with the platform they work for, Senior Minister of Manpower State Koh Poh Koon said.

Speaking to parliament on September 14, Koh noted that since these workers’ contracts with platform companies were not employment contracts, they lack basic employment protections, such as compensation for industrial accidents, union representation and the employer’s CPF.

Koh said: “This is a concern as more and more people are taking on this work and some at a young age.”

The working arrangements of these workers may resemble those of employees.

Koh further pointed out that the working arrangements of these workers can be similar to those of employees, as the platform companies set the price of their product, determine the assignment of workers’ tasks and manage the performance of the workers. workers, including imposing penalties and suspensions.

Additionally, most of these workers were already earning modest incomes, even before the impact of Covid-19, and may find it more difficult to afford housing, health care and pensions as a result.

Breaking down the demographics of these workers, Koh noted that in 2020, 190,000 people were self-employed as their primary source of income, of which around 79,000 were working with corresponding platform companies.

Of this group of 79,000 workers, about half are VTC drivers, a third are taxi drivers, while the rest are mainly car and light commercial vehicle drivers, who use delivery service platforms to get delivery work.

From 2018 to 2020, the median monthly income of residents employed full-time in these three occupations ranged between S $ 1,500 and S $ 2,000.

The death rate has remained low

Noting that a related question on the number of injuries and deaths suffered by food and cargo deliverers had been filed, Koh responded that the number of fatalities has remained low.

Koh said: “In 2019 and 2020 there were two deaths each year. In 2018, the first year we started tracking this, there were no deaths. We currently have no data. on traffic-related injuries suffered by these delivery people. “

NTUC is also looking for better benefits for platform workers

In August, the president of the National Trade Union Congress, Ng Chee Meng, also expressed similar concerns about workers without basic job protection.

Talk to Mothership, Ng said his union will seek more for these workers, including better medical benefits.

Ng added that the Central Provident Fund (CPF) was also an issue raised by delivery men.

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Top photo via Zye Hensem / Facebook, Petrina Ng / Facebook

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