Hansard Explorer

Dr Charlene Chen asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry will assess the impact of prolonged haze on the earnings and health of platform delivery workers who reduce outdoor work in accordance with health advisories; and (b) whether it will consider income protection or other forms of support for workers who suspend deliveries during periods of unhealthy air quality.

The Minister of State for Manpower (Mr Foo Cexiang) (for the Acting Minister for Manpower): Platform delivery workers are exposed to the haze given the outdoor nature of their work. Protecting their health and safety is paramount.

To help mitigate the impact of haze on their health and earnings, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has advised both platform operators and platform delivery workers on measures that they should take when the haze occurs. For example, platform operators should send timely reminders to their workers to rest and stay hydrated. Platform operators should not penalise platform workers for taking longer to complete jobs during this period, including through reduced incentives and job allocations or pay deductions.

We encourage platform workers to take adequate breaks. They can make use of community haze shelters at Community Clubs for respite breaks during hazy conditions.

We note that the National Delivery Champions Association had also partnered with several platform operators to distribute N95 masks to platform workers last month. We welcome such proactive efforts by our platform work associations and platform operators.

The Government recognises that some platform workers, particularly those who are more vulnerable to the effects of haze, may need to reduce their delivery work for health reasons. Eligible workers who face financial difficulties may approach their Social Service Office for financial assistance.

Mr Speaker: Dr Chen.

Dr Charlene Chen (Tampines): Thank you, Speaker. I have two questions. First, does MOM have visibility over how platform operators account for haze-related disruptions in these arrangements and are there safeguards to ensure that riders are not disadvantaged for prioritising their health?

Second, is MOM working with the platform operators to see if any mechanisms to support delivery personnel are needed? What would constitute a threshold for such mechanisms to be implemented when there is severe air pollution?

Mr Foo Cexiang: Thank you. I thank the Member for her two supplementary questions. The first, on whether there are safeguards. Indeed, there are safeguards. We recognise that the principle is that a delivery worker should not be worse off simply because he or she takes reasonable precautions to protect their health during the haze.

Under our guidance, operators should not penalise workers for taking longer to complete jobs during hazy conditions. We have been quite specific about what this means. It includes penalties through their incentive schemes, reduced job allocations or pay deductions. So, we do expect platform operators to take the haze into account in how they manage their workers during these periods.

The flexibility has to work both ways. If we ask a rider to slow down, to take a break or avoid prolonged outdoor activity for his or her health, the platforms' systems and incentives should not push him or her into the opposite direction. And where a worker believes that this is happening, he or she should first raise it with the platform operator and, if there is a workplace safety and health concern, report it to MOM through our SnapSAFE platform. And we will follow up.

We will continue to work closely with the platform operators to make sure that these arrangements operate well in practice. Our objective is straightforward. Workers should feel that they are able to follow the health advisories without fearing that doing so will count against them.

On whether there would be a threshold in terms of activating additional mechanisms, we would like to highlight that thus far, our measures have been calibrated to the health risks at different air quality levels and through advisories that we issue to all our 24 platform operators. We have explained to them what these measures are, including what they should do, what they should advise their platform workers when it is in the different ranges. We will continue to work closely with our platform operators.