More support urged for Singapore’s gig workers

An advisory committee set up to look into bolstering support for gig workers in Singapore has urged that such workers need more support to meet their retirement and housing needs, and a standard level of coverage for work injuries.

In November, the committee started a public consultation exercise, looking at areas like improving housing and retirement needs for such workers, getting better representation to help them improve working conditions and labour relations, and strengthening their financial protection in the face of work injuries, reports The Straits Times.

Some 1,300 submissions were received from respondents, including gig workers themselves. 

“Some [respondents] suggested having platform companies make Central Provident Fund contributions for workers, while others felt that platform workers should bear their own responsibility,” said Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower, in a Facebook post.

There was also a general consensus that platform companies should provide a baseline level of coverage for work injuries sustained by these workers, the minister added. 

READ: Singapore bars unvaccinated workers from workplace from January 15

However, views differed as to whether this level of coverage should be the same as full-time workers’, since gig workers are not considered employees of the company.