PMD footpath ban. How do we even begin?
Aunties with supposedly weak knees stood up to cheer from their reserved seats in the MRT while 7,000 food delivery riders who use PMDs for delivery were suddenly out of job, or had to change to bicycles or motorbikes overnight.
For a concise guide of what’s happening, check out this video:
Food delivery riders, some of whom who’ve just bought a new PMD due to the impending UL2272 regulation, have gone to several Meet-the-People sessions, with the intention of seeking help from their MPs.
According to official numbers, 5% of Deliveroo riders use PMDs, 12% of Foodpanda use PMDs and GrabFood has more than 1/3 of their riders delivering with those killer machines e-scooters, which explains why the Meet-the-People sessions look like a Hulk party.
The common reasons were given: they’ve no other mode of transport to continue with their jobs as riding a bicycles is too tiring and not everyone can ride a motorbike.
A TODAYonline report also states that a food delivery rider’s daily take-home was cut by more than half after he switched to bicycle.
Surely, with 7,000 people “losing” their job overnight, the authorities are going to step in to help.
And step in they did.
Ministry of Transport: May the Transport Be With You
According to a press release by the Ministry of Transport, they’re here to help…but not to all PMD riders.
They’re just helping food delivery riders who use PMDs, and no, they’re not going to create an exception for them.
Instead, they’re “giving money”.
Together with NTUC, MOM, MSF, and the food delivery companies, MOT and LTA have formulated a Transition Assistance Package (TAP) to provide comprehensive assistance to the affected riders.
Because hey: transitioning is better than compromising, right?
For a start, there’s the Trade-in Grant (eTG), which is set up by the Government and food delivery companies. The $7 million grant is only available for food delivery riders who are still working as a food delivery rider as of 7 November 2019, and of course must have a PMD.
Unfortunately, it’s not cash grant; instead, the riders can trade in their PMDs for grants of $600 or $1,000 to buy a new bicycle or e-bicycle. For bicycles, the grant is $600 while for e-bicycle, the grant is $1,000.
A check online shows that an entry-level e-bicycle costs less than $1,000, so this is definitely a solution…though drivers might now complain about seeing more bicycles on the road #cannotpleaseveryone
The riders are supposed to do the trade-ins in their respective food delivery companies, and can of course only surrender their PMD to one company if they work for more than one company.
But that’s not all.
If any of the 7,000 riders decide to take the transition to another level and look for another job instead, NTUC and WSG are there for you.
NTUC & Workforce Singapore Working with Food Delivery Companies
NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) are already working with the three food delivery companies to provide career services and job search support under the Adapt and Grow initiative.
Now, simi is Adapt and Grow? We also have a video for this as well (yeah, we eat full nothing to do so always do videos):
(Plot twist: It’s a sponsored video)
Affected drivers will receive customised information on career events starting from next week. They can also contact WSG directly via hotline (68835885), or visit any of the five WSG’s Careers Connect and NTUC’s e2i centres for immediate assistance.
And according to Goody Feed’s intensive investigative intel that took six monhs (okay lah, it’s because we’ve contacts), the union and e2i folks had gone down to the MPS to talk to affected riders as well, and are continuing to do so.
I don’t know about you, but when those union folks went down to where the displaced folks are, I can smell nothing but sincerity.
Kudos, NTUC! I’ll be sure to buy more groceries from NTUC—
NTUC Folks: HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU, NTUC AND NTUC FAIRPRICE IS DIFFERENT YOU ID—
(P.S. That conversation really did take place between our colleague and an NTUC staff)
Financial Assistance Available
For riders who need temporary financial assistance, no worries; the authorities have you covered, too.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) and ComCare schemes are available to provide temporary financial assistance. Riders may approach the nearest Social Service Office or their nearest PA Community Club for assistance.
Now, while solutions for the food delivery riders have now been provided, I’m sure one group of people are still triggered.
PMD retailers.
Well, if they sell e-bicycles and bicycles as well, then they’d be happy.
If not…
Welcome to the business world, whereby putting all eggs into one basket isn’t just a mistake; it’s a fatal mistake.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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