NTUC and its partners are putting together financial relief and training services to help delivery riders who are no longer able to make deliveries using their e-scooters. The announcement was made on 15 November 2019.
Through the U FSE Short-term Relief Fund, NTUC’s U FSE (Freelancers and Self-Employed) Unit will provide financial relief to riders who are existing NTUC union members and new sign-ups.
The assistance will come in the form of vouchers and membership fee reimbursement.
Meanwhile, all riders will have access to the E-scooter Delivery Riders Training and Career Support Programme.
From 5 November 2019, delivery riders cannot use their e-scooters on footpaths when doing their rounds.
The U FSE Short-Term Relief Fund aims to help eligible e-scooter delivery riders who are facing a sudden loss of income and are not able to take on other jobs as they are primary caregivers or have pre-existing medical conditions etc.
The assistance will be extended to both existing and new NTUC union members.
Under the fund, all e-scooter delivery riders who are union members will enjoy three months’ worth of membership reimbursement co-sponsored by NTUC, foodpanda and GrabFood.
NTUC said that e-scooter delivery riders need to retain their membership or become a union member to enjoy full membership benefits.
E-scooter delivery riders who are existing NTUC union members will also be able to apply for $200 worth of Kopitiam or NTUC FairPrice gift cards. Meanwhile, new union members can apply for $100 gift cards.
Applications can be made between 19 November to 31 December 2019, subject to availability and approval.
As training support, NTUC LearningHub will roll out curated training programmes by next week for riders who wish to continue in their profession. These programmes will include training in safety, service management and first aid.
Meanwhile, NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) is currently working with SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore to utilise existing training funds to cover course fees and training allowances.
For riders who intend to switch jobs, e2i will help identify and assess their skills gaps. It will follow up by recommending suitable interventions through the Adapt and Grow Programme.
e2i is also working with GrabFood, foodpanda and Deliveroo to provide riders with career guidance and employment facilitation services.
Since the new footpath rule came into effect, NTUC staff have engaged more than 300 delivery riders at various Meet-the-People sessions around the country to understand their concerns.
About 60 of the delivery riders engaged expressed interest in looking for another job.
On top of the announcement, existing NTUC union members can already enjoy a suite of membership benefits such as the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) worth $250 every year, and free insurance coverage with NTUC Gift worth up to $40,000.
NTUC union members facing financial difficulties can also apply for the NTUC-U Care Fund’s U Stretch and Back-to-School vouchers. These vouchers will provide relief by helping them stretch their dollar on daily essentials.
Low- to middle-income NTUC union members who suffer a sudden loss of income can also apply for the CapitaLand-U Care Resilience and Enablement Fund (CAP+Ure). Each of the members’ children will receive a one-time disbursement of $250 in NTUC FairPrice vouchers to provide for their daily necessities and schooling needs.
NTUC’s U FSE has also expressed its intention to be a representative voice for those who rely on e-scooters to make a living.
“Having heard their concerns on the ground, I urge riders who are not members to join us so that they can access our suite of services that address their needs. We know that some riders are facing financial hardship and hope that the fund will provide them with some immediate relief. I also strongly encourage riders to take up the training programmes that will be rolled out soon,” said NTUC’s U FSE Acting Director Jean See.
