Singapore creates representation group to protect gig employees
- Champa Ha
Gig employees in Singapore, such as private-hire drivers and delivery couriers, can soon be formally represented at the negotiation table with platform operators, which will work to resolve any issues between both parties.
This comes after the government accepted a set of recommendations by the Tripartite Workgroup on Representation for Platform Workers, a group looking to increase protection and representation for gig employees. These eight recommendations cover areas such as formalising recognition for such representative bodies, the scope of issues that can be negotiated between the bodies and platform operators, and how to facilitate resolutions for disagreements.
These recommendations, said Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Manpower, “create a win-win framework” between platform operators and gig employees, and take into consideration flexibilities in platform work that differs from regular employees.
“With representative bodies, platform workers can better negotiate for your interests,” said Dr Koh, who also happens to be the advisor for the Tripartite Workgroup on Representation for Platform Workers. “Platform operators can also benefit from clear processes and rules for negotiation and more efficient dispute management so as to preserve the harmonious relationship between operators and workers.”
As of 2022, there are approximately 88,000 “regular” platform workers comprising delivery workers, private-hire car drivers and taxi drivers who use online platforms to find work. The new recommended framework looks to cover these groups of workers for the time being. There are no plans now to extend them to other freelance or gig employees.
READ MORE: Is AI data causing wage discrimination for gig economy employees?
The Ministry of Manpower has announced in a recent statement that the government will be working closely with tripartite partners, platform workers and platform operators to implement the recommendations, starting from the second half of 2024.
