Debated in Parliament on 27 Feb 2018.
Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the findings on the safety of delivery riders/drivers from the Ministry's inspection of 50 food delivery and courier service companies between July and September 2017; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider introducing legislation to ensure that food delivery and courier service companies be accountable for work-related traffic accidents involving their deliverymen, including part-timers and contract personnel, on bicycles and personal mobility devices.
Mr Speaker, Sir, MOM inspected 50 food delivery and courier service companies last year and issued 71 notices to 44 errant companies for infringement of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) regulations. More than 70% of the infringements were related to the lack of or inadequate risk assessment. These companies did not conduct risk assessment to identify hazards which can affect the safety and health of their employees and contract personnel.
Without risk assessments, the companies are not able to put in place the necessary preventive actions against accidents. These errant companies have since rectified the safety lapses and conducted proper risk assessments for their employees and contracted parties directly working under them. We will conduct similar operations this year on other delivery companies and couriers to ensure that they also adopt proper WSH measures at their workplaces.
On the need for legislation, the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) already requires food delivery and courier service companies to ensure the safety and health of their workers, including part-time employees and contract personnel. The safety measures include ensuring that their workers have taken adequate safety measures and have sufficient training on the use of bicycles and personal mobility devices.
I thank the Minister of State. I have one supplementary question. Will MOM consider making it mandatory for our employers to buy special insurance policies for their delivery men to cover third-party risks so that the victims can make claims should there be an accident?
Sir, under the existing law, third-party risks are already covered by motor insurance if the delivery men use vehicles, such as vans, lorries, cars and so on, to carry out their work. So, this is covered. However, there is one group of delivery men not covered under the current law and these are the delivery men using personal mobility devices to perform their tasks.
This issue is being studied by the Active Mobility Advisory Panel under MOT. I understand that the study is due to be completed by the end of this year. By then, we should have more information on how this gap can be closed.
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