New updates regarding protections for platform workers were announced by Senior Minister of State for Manpower, Koh Poh Koon, on July 12. The legislation, aimed at improving work injury compensation, will soon be introduced in Parliament, aligning with the goal for implementation in the latter half of 2024.

In November, Singapore revealed plans to provide platform workers with employee-like work-injury insurance and contributions to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings scheme. The government also indicated that these workers would be permitted to join representative organizations with powers akin to trade unions.

Dr. Koh emphasized the importance of new legislation to facilitate these changes during a closed-door dialogue with approximately 120 platform workers and industry stakeholders at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Eunos.

Updates on the proposed legislation included the definition of being “at work” for compensation purposes. Specifically, a platform worker will be considered “at work” during the pick-up and drop-off of passengers or items, even while walking to their vehicles. This means that injuries sustained while completing a delivery or en route to the pick-up location will still qualify for coverage.

Additionally, compensation for income loss due to work injuries will be determined based on the worker’s average earnings from the 90 days leading up to the injury. Dr. Koh clarified that this timeframe was not specified in the earlier announcement about ensuring comparable compensation levels for platform workers under the Work Injury Compensation Act.

Regarding the CPF contributions, the government is collaborating with platform companies to create a streamlined collection mechanism, ensuring it is user-friendly for both companies and workers. The objective is to simplify the process while accounting for the unique aspects of platform work.

In appreciation of the contributions of platform workers, Dr. Koh expressed that the forthcoming legislation would significantly influence the sustainable development of their industry.

Mixed Reactions from Workers
After the dialogue, platform workers expressed a mix of optimism and concern regarding the new protections. A ride-hailing driver for Grab, who preferred to remain anonymous, welcomed the measures, particularly the enhanced collective voice for platform workers. However, she raised concerns about coverage limitations during idle periods while awaiting new assignments.

Similarly, a food delivery rider, identified only as Lee, highlighted the need for further discussions about specific grievances faced by delivery personnel, such as unfavorable assignment practices. He pointed out the challenges of being tasked with large deliveries without prior notification, which often leads to confusion and potential safety risks.

Overall, while the announcements indicate progress towards better protections for platform workers, there are calls for continued dialogue to address remaining issues in the gig economy.