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The National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), an NTUC-affiliated association, held an event “Ride Safe for My Family” at Our Tampines Hub today with delivery riders and their families in attendance. The event was graced by Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Advisor to NDCA. In line with 2022 as the Year of Celebrating SG Families, the event aims to raise greater awareness of road safety measures and for riders, many of whom are parents who have taken up delivery work to support their families, to prioritise personal safety on the road while working. Riders also attended a talk on e-bike safety checks by the Safe Cycling Task Force and TWD Bicycle and learnt practical tips and skills to upkeep their equipment.
This event comes amid the rising numbers of work-related accidents nationwide, of which the food delivery industry is not exempt. According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) 1H2021 Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Report, vehicular accidents continue to be one of the top causes of work-related fatalities in the first half of 2021, with four out of the six recorded vehicular-related fatalities involving delivery or dispatch riders on duty.
The “Ride Safe for My Family” event is also the latest in line of existing safety-related initiatives helmed by NDCA. Other initiatives that NDCA is looking into or have embarked on include the following:
a. Reviews into better financial protection for workers who have sustained work-related injuries as part of the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers;
b. Educating cyclists and users of Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs) on safe riding practices in collaboration with the Land Transport Authority’s “Confidence on Wheels” Programme;
c. Initiated the formation of the Workplace Safety and Health Workgroup for Delivery Services in October 2021 to facilitate regular communication with delivery platforms. The Workgroup aims to develop practices related to the safety, health and welfare of riders and promote the adoption of such practices at their workplaces; and
d. Organising Mandatory Theory Test Preparatory Workshops for PAB riders to better understand the rules and build their confidence to pass the test.
More Support Needed to Improve Work Safety for Delivery Riders
Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Advisor to NDCA, said, “The road safety of delivery riders is one of NTUC’s key concerns. These workers’ journeys on the road can be precarious and they are vulnerable to skids and falls especially in wet weather or when they rush to meet delivery timings. We strongly believe that more can be done to address the wellbeing and safety of our delivery riders who need their livelihoods to support their families, such as having bulky orders matched to a more appropriate delivery mode instead of bicycles or PABs. We seek greater understanding and graciousness towards our riders from road users and urge various stakeholders to join our efforts to create safer work conditions for them.”
Ms Yeo added, “In addition to road safety, NTUC is looking at how to better protect and improve the livelihoods of our delivery riders. As part of our engagement efforts with delivery riders, we recently conducted a survey with them which provided insights on their challenges and pain points. We will be announcing the findings and key recommendations soon. We would like to encourage more platform-based delivery riders to join NDCA so that we can better represent them with a stronger collective voice.”
