SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said on Thursday ( Aug 29 ) that it would form new platform work associations ( PWAs ) with a “legal mandate” to represent workers such as taxi drivers and food delivery riders.
If the Platform Workers Bill is passed in legislature, it would do the same. It was first introduced on August 6 and will be up before the House the following quarter.
” Under existing rules, software personnel are not recognised as people. As such, they are not allowed to form organizations to protect their interests”, said NTUC in a press launch on Thursday.
Currently, the National Taxi Association (NTA ), National Private Hire Vehicles Association ( NPHVA ), and National Delivery Champions Association ( NDCA ) represent platform workers ‘ interests, but they do not have legal backing.
The PWAs may be legally able to provide more to program workers, according to NTUC.
The Bill proposes , methods to help the housing and pension adequacy of software workers. If passed, it would establish rules for compensation for labor injuries and expand the rights of software providers and employees to prevent accidents.
Additionally, the Bill calls for the establishment of a legal framework for software staff ‘ picture.
The proposed legislation does “reinforce our efforts to safeguard software staff ‘ livelihoods, and enable us to officially represent the areas that matter a lot to them, such as wages, protection and well-being at work”, said NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng.
The new PWAs will strengthen the efforts of the NTA, NPHVA, and NDCA, according to NTUC, including financial aid, closer collaboration and bargaining with system operators to address issues involving good work practices and function safety.
If the Bill is passed, it may give the PWAs the “legal authority to actually represent system employees”, said the rulers of the three organizations.
This means that we will be more vocal and willing to bargain for them for better perks and benefits.