NTUC-affiliated associations reach out to PHV driver Gavin Neo's family to offer support & assistance

Three NTUC-affiliated associations are urging platform operators to provide their workers with better earnings, welfare, and work conditions.

This call came in response to the recent passing of a private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver, Gavin Neo.

In a Jun. 3 statement, the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), and National Taxi Association (NTA) detailed several suggestions for improving the lives and livelihoods of platform workers.

Platform workers are people who provide ride-hailing or delivery services for an online platform. In 2024, there were a total of 67,600 regular platform workers in Singapore.

NDCA, NPHVA, and NTA are officially registered Platform Work Associations (PWAs) with the power to legally represent and protect platform workers' interests through negotiations with platform operators.

Advocating for improvements

The three associations proposed greater transparency in displaying fee structures so that workers have a better understanding of their earnings and can make more informed decisions about their working hours.

Pricing should also not fall below a "fair minimum".

They also said platform operators should avoid schemes that incentivise the workers to work long hours for rewards. Workers should be allowed "reasonable rest duration" to prevent them from getting fatigued.

In terms of protection, the statement noted that platform workers are covered under Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) for work-related incidents, and under NTUC GIFT if they are NTUC members.

NTUC GIFT is a group insurance policy for members of NTUC affiliated unions and associations under 65 years old. They are covered against death, total/partial and permanent disability for up to S$40,000.

On top of these policies, NDCA, NPHVA, and NTA asked for platform operators to also do their part to provide their workers with better insurance coverage.

A PHV driver's passing

Neo passed away on May 29 after a sudden cerebral stroke.

He had been working up to 15 hours a day to support his two teenage children.

Fellow drivers started a crowdfunding campaign to support Neo's family financially.

NDCA, NPHVA, and NTA said that they have reached out to Neo's family to offer support and assistance. They are also working directly with the platform operator Neo had worked under to help the family.

NTUC assistant secretary-general and MP Yeo Wan Ling also put up a Facebook post on the issue on what these unions are doing to help platform workers.

Top image from Neo's Facebook and Yeo's Facebook