“Simple event with simple folks talking about serious business with serious platforms that matter.”
— Mar Vin, Foo🌿🪟
protection #platform #gigeconomy – I received an invitation to attend a dialogue session with Dr. Koh Poh-Koon Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower & Advisor to Advisory Committee on Platform #Workers and Ms. Goh Swee-Chen, Chairperson for National Arts Council and Board Chair for Nanyang Technological University.
Singapore government nurtures and encourages the flourishing of innovation while keeping watch on the impact on the economy and society.
Platform workers for super-app are providing conveniences to consumers by addressing demand for door-to-door delivery services. They have been wonderful during the pandemic when households are quarantined yet require food for sustenance.
The question that beckons is, are we providing a safety net for our platform workers who are braving the roads, exposing themselves to the weather elements, the road and food hazards including traffic and personal accidents such as hot soup or altercation with rogue customers.
Our platform workers lack insurance coverage compared to full-time employed staff and Dr. Koh urges the voices of our 20,000 platform delivery drivers and riders to be heard.
Similarly, #retirement funds including Medisave are not paid for our platform workers, many of whom are Singaporeans and require Central Provident Fund (CPF) funds to pay for their house mortgages or home loans.
Inflationary pressures are certainly affecting this segment of our own people much more than others with 50% worrying about paying installments for their homes and another 50% concerned about retiring comfortably in Singapore.
Are we doing enough for our own kind who are delivering everyday conveniences to us?
#marvinTechAdvocate
I am Mar Vin Foo 🪟🌿.
Thank you for leveling the playing field of burgeoning platforms.
P.S: I was impressed with Dr. Koh’s candid engagement in fluent English and Chinese just like the flip of a switch upon the request of the audience. The occasional Hokkien descriptions made the session lively and endearing to know that our community cares.