Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower announced the formation of the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers. The Committee aims to strengthen protections for self-employed persons who work for online platforms, specifically delivery persons, private-hire car drivers, and taxi drivers.

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At its first meeting last week, the Advisory Committee noted the lack of basic job protections due to the nature of platform work, and decided on three priority areas to ensure a fairer and more balanced relationship between platforms and platform workers. These three areas include: Improving retirement and housing adequacy, ensuring adequate financial protection in case of work injury, and closing the gap in bargaining power.

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“As self-employed persons, platform workers contribute about 8% – 10.5% of their income to their MediSave (national medical savings programme) while platform operators currently do not make CPF (Central Provident Fund, a compulsory savings and pensions plan) contributions for their platform workers. The Advisory Committee will explore ways to help platform workers save up for their retirement and housing needs,” the Committee stated.

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On work injury, the Committee added, “As platform workers are often on the road, they are at greater risk of accidents and injury. The Advisory Committee will explore how platform workers can be better protected financially if they are injured at work.”

On its third point, the Committee stated, “As platform workers are not employees, they are not able to form unions. Thus, they have no access to unions’ collective bargaining and dispute resolution mechanisms. The Advisory Committee will look into ways to strengthen the bargaining power of platform workers, taking into account their unique employment circumstances.”

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