Meager pay, long hours: IPS study highlights vulnerability of food delivery workers in S’pore

by admin
Meager pay, long hours: IPS study highlights vulnerability of food delivery workers in S’pore
Meager pay, long hours: IPS study highlights vulnerability of food delivery workers in S’pore

[ad_1]

SINGAPORE – Seven out of 10 food vendors here report earning a monthly income of less than $3,000 from delivery jobs, with an average monthly income of $1,925 – less than half the national average monthly wage of $4,680 in 2021 Mr.

Yet roughly four in 10 say they work more than 44 hours a week – the maximum recommended by the Employment Act – while only one in four believe they have enough savings to support themselves and their families in the short term. if they stop working.

These findings from a survey of 1,002 food delivery workers, which also found that around a third of them had suffered an accident, show a clear need for broad social protection for this vulnerable group, including compulsory contributions to the Central Provident Fund (CPF). , researchers from the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) said in a paper published on Friday.

This is despite the fact that seven out of 10 food delivery workers surveyed would rather earn more money than get these extra protections, with a roughly even split between those who want CPF contributions and those who don’t.

The researchers, led by IPS Social Lab head Dr Matthew Matthews, said only those who earned at least a quarter of their monthly income from food delivery took part in the study, which was conducted between July and August 2022 Mr.

About 46 percent of respondents said they rely solely on food delivery for their personal income.

The survey follows earlier research conducted by IPS, which included a survey of 958 private hire car drivers and in-depth interviews with both drivers and food delivery workers.

It also follows a survey of 4,200 food delivery workers published in March 2022 by the three main food delivery platforms here – Grab, foodpanda and Deliveroo. The platforms said data from 2021 showed average hourly earnings for food delivery workers to be between $12 and $18, higher than the $7 to $11 an hour advertised for food and beverage roles.

But in their latest report, IPS researchers said some providers indicated that the reported high average hourly earnings were not accurate, given that they may only reflect peak-hour earnings. Part-timers who often make deliveries during peak hours can earn significantly more fares, they added.

The average food delivery worker did not experience significant changes in their total monthly income after switching to delivery work, the IPS report found.

About six in 10 either had no change in their income bracket or their total monthly income decreased after becoming a food provider.

Only 3.2 percent were able to earn more than $5,000 a month from food delivery alone, and that required significant effort and risk, the researchers said.

The report highlights a 36-year-old worker who earns about $8,000 a month delivering food by bicycle. He had to work every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., even during thunderstorms and torrential rain.

[ad_2]

Source link

You may also like