SINGAPORE – Ahead of possible changes to the law to give platform workers greater protection, three major food delivery companies here – Grab, Deliveroo and foodpanda – have joined forces to set up an industry association to represent digital platforms.
Breaking from the typically cut-throat competition seen among e-commerce and online service platforms, the launch of the Digital Platforms Industry Association (DPIA) on Thursday (Aug 18) will see the three firms acting collectively to strengthen the industry’s practices and raise standards, they said.
It is unclear what impact the move will have on competition, and thus consumers.
The association said it plans to identify areas for improvement and work with the Government and other stakeholders to create solutions that “reflect the voices of its delivery partners and merchants”.
It also intends to introduce an industry code of practice that will incorporate best practices and principles relating to the health and safety of food delivery workers, added the firms.
This development comes as the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers enters the latter stages of its deliberations.
Set up by the Manpower Ministry in September last year, the committee was tasked with looking for ways to better protect workers who rely on digital platforms for income, It has been discussing the issue with individual platform companies.
Recommendations on how to improve retirement and housing adequacy, work injury compensation and bargaining power for cabbies, private-hire car drivers and freelance delivery workers are expected to be announced later this year.
Should the Government accept these recommendations, there could be legislative changes – such as to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Act to require platform companies to make CPF contributions, and the Work Injury Compensation Act so that it covers platform workers.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the association said its members will still engage individually with the advisory committee, as well as the Government and the National Delivery Champions Association, as each company has its own business model and interests.
There are no plans for wider data sharing between members.
Instead, the association wants greater collaboration across the industry, said a spokesman.
“DPIA members are committed to working together to find common ground in the spirit of improving the platform ecosystem,” she added, without giving further details.
On whether the setting up of the association could affect competition or create conflicts of interest among its members, the association said it will comply with the rules of the Registry of Societies as well as the Competition Act in Singapore.
In a joint statement on Thursday, Grab, foodpanda and Deliveroo said the association will help to consolidate the expertise of the three companies and shape the development and growth of the digital platform industry within Singapore’s economy.
The three had teamed up in March to conduct a joint survey of 4,200 food delivery riders in Singapore – the first poll of its kind here.
Grab, Deliveroo and foodpanda join hands to look into best practices, workers’ health and safety & Latest News Update
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