Food delivery platforms should provide motorbikes to the drivers, and set up a mechanism for vehicle repair and maintenance in order to ensure the safety of the employees, member of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC), Lei Chong Sum, indicated in a TDM Radio forum today (Wednesday).
Lei stressed that many food delivery drivers do not repair their motorbikes in order to reduce expenses, even under unsafe conditions where the tires lack friction or the brake system is faulty.
Also, the TAC member pointed out that many citizens have joined the food delivery industry because of the economic downturn faced in the SAR, and this has increased the risk as many newbies are not familiar with the traffic conditions.
On April 28, an accident in Rotunda do Istmo in Cotai claimed the life of one food delivery driver after he collided with a tour bus and succumbed to his injuries.
The driver in question was said to have become unemployed after his former employer, a local gambling junket, opted to cease operations, with the driver having started his position just two months before the accident.
In the TDM radio program today, the representative of TAC expressed his hope for the food delivery platforms to offer safe driving courses and notice the drivers of the possible dangers.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of Association Choi In Tong Sam, Gao An Fong, indicated that for the long-term development of the food delivery industry, drivers should work under contract with the platforms instead of under self-employment arrangements.
Gao said that government should issue more instructions to ensure that the drivers can enjoy appropriate protection and benefits, and inform the employees of their legal rights.
Also, the working hours of drivers should be limited, in order to avoid extreme overtime working, the Secretary-General stated.
Meanwhile, Gao indicated that the food delivery platforms should optimize their backend system to better calculate the delivery time according to the traffic conditions, and install positioning devices and driving recorders on the drivers’ vehicles.
