As an effort to study the issues faced by self-employed persons (SEPs) or freelancers amidst the growing gig economy in Singapore, the government’s tripartite workgroup formed in March is now inviting public feedbacks on what their top concerns will be in the future economy.
The group, comprising members from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), as well as the Singapore National Employers Federation, said that it had noted several significant concerns during their engagements with people in the sector. Some of the top concerns include tardiness in getting payment or salary, ineligibility for employment benefits, and the uncertainty of finding sufficient work.
According to a survey conducted by MOM in August last year, there are some 200,000 in Singapore. This made up about 8 to 10 percent of the total workforce in the country, The New Paper reports.
Aiming to gain more in-depth understanding of the challenges that freelancers face, the group is seeking for feedbacks on a consultation paper that is posted on the Reach website. On the information board, it defines the freelancers as people who operate and run their own trade or business. Those who fall into this category are taxi drivers, property agents, private hire car drivers, and private tutors.
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The tripartite workgroup expects that such workers could benefit from some enhanced protection from employers, given the prediction that self-employment might become more prevalent in the near future.
Members of the public who would like to participate in this initiative can e-mail their feedback to mom-consultations@mom.gov.sg, using the title or subject “Consultations on SEPs’ Top Concerns in the Future Economy”. The latest response should be received before 6pm on Dec 22.
From these feedbacks, the group will consolidate and publish a summary of the key comments received.
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