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The Straits Times Toggle navigation Best News Website or Mobile Service WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Asia THE STRAITS TIMES Best News Website or Mobile Service WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Asia SINGAPORE THE STRAITS TIMES Edition : * International * Singapore MAIN NAVIGATION * Home * Singapore Toggle Dropdown * Jobs * Housing * Parenting & Education * Politics * Health * Transport * Courts & Crime * Consumer * Environment * Community * Asia Toggle Dropdown * SE Asia * East Asia * South Asia * Australia/NZ * World Toggle Dropdown * United States * Europe * Middle East * Opinion Toggle Dropdown * ST Editorial * Cartoons * Forum * Life Toggle Dropdown * Food * Entertainment * Style * Travel * Arts * Motoring * Home & Design * Business Toggle Dropdown * Economy * Invest * Banking * Companies & Markets * Property * Tech Toggle Dropdown * Tech News * E-sports * Reviews * Sport Toggle Dropdown * Football * Schools * Formula One * Combat Sports * Basketball * Tennis * Golf * More Toggle Dropdown * Opinion * Life * Business * Tech * Sport * Videos * Podcasts * Multimedia * LOG IN * Subscribe * E-paper Toggle navigation The Straits Times Toggle navigation * LOG IN * Subscribe Edition * International * Singapore * ST Read & Win * E-paper MAIN NAVIGATION * Home * Singapore Toggle Dropdown * Jobs * Housing * Parenting & Education * Politics * Health * Transport * Courts & Crime * Consumer * Environment * Community * Asia Toggle Dropdown * SE Asia * East Asia * South Asia * Australia/NZ * World Toggle Dropdown * United States * Europe * Middle East * Opinion Toggle Dropdown * ST Editorial * Cartoons * Forum * Life Toggle Dropdown * Food * Entertainment * Style * Travel * Arts * Motoring * Home & Design * Business Toggle Dropdown * Economy * Invest * Banking * Companies & Markets * Property * Tech Toggle Dropdown * Tech News * E-sports * Reviews * Sport Toggle Dropdown * Football * Schools * Formula One * Combat Sports * Basketball * Tennis * Golf * More Toggle Dropdown * Opinion * Life * Business * Tech * Sport * Videos * Podcasts * Multimedia * SPH Websites * news with benefits * SPH Rewards * STJobs * STCars * STProperty * STClassifieds * SITES * Berita Harian * Hardwarezone * Shin Min Daily News * STOMP * SGCarMart * SRX Property * tabla * Tamil Murasu * The Business Times * The New Paper * zaobao.sg * Obits.sg * Advertise with us GRAB, DELIVEROO AND FOODPANDA JOIN HANDS TO LOOK INTO BEST PRACTICES, WORKERS' HEALTH AND SAFETY The three firms are banding together under the Digital Platforms Industry Association. FILE PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Kok Yufeng Transport Correspondent Updated 27 Mins Ago Published 11 Hours Ago Facebook WhatsApp Twitter More Whatsapp Linkedin FB Messenger Telegram Twitter Reddit WeChat Pinterest Print Purchase Article Copy permalinkCopy to clipboard https://str.sg/wRFU SINGAPORE - The three major food delivery companies here – Grab, Deliveroo and foodpanda – have set up an industry association to represent digital platforms, ahead of possible changes to the law to give platform workers greater protection. In a break from the typically cut-throat competition seen among e-commerce and online service platforms, the three firms on Thursday (Aug 18) said they are banding together under the Digital Platforms Industry Association (DPIA) to strengthen the industry’s practices and raise standards. In a statement, the association said it plans to identify areas for improvement and work with the Government and other stakeholders to create solutions that “reflect the voices of its delivery partners and merchants”. It also intends to introduce an industry code of practice that will incorporate best practices relating to the health and safety of food delivery workers. Observers said the new association may lead to improvements in the welfare of delivery workers, which could in turn improve service quality for consumers. But these improvements are likely to be incremental and materialise only in the longer term, they added. Singapore Management University’s Assistant Professor Terence Fan, who specialises in transport issues, said the timing of the move suggests that the intention is for this dedicated association to act as a larger, more concerted voice when responding to government policies or initiatives. But it is unlikely to herald any drastic changes, he noted. Get tips to grow your investments and career in weekly newsletter Thank you! Sign up By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. This development comes as the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers is expected to propose ways to improve retirement and housing adequacy, work injury compensation and bargaining power for cabbies, private-hire car drivers and freelance delivery workers later this year. The committee was set up last September by the Manpower Ministry to study how to better protect workers who rely on digital platforms for income. It has been discussing the issue with individual platform companies. Its recommendations, if accepted by the Government, could lead to legislative changes – for instance amending the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Act to require platform companies to make CPF contributions, and the Work Injury Compensation Act to cover platform workers. In response to queries, the association said its members will still engage individually with the advisory committee as each company has its own business model and interests. There are no plans for wider data sharing between members. Instead, members will collaborate to “find common ground in the spirit of improving the platform ecosystem”, said a spokesman, without elaborating. The association plans to develop initiatives in areas such as education and awareness, rider matters and merchant development, she added. While it will initially focus on food delivery, the association plans to expand membership to sectors such as ride-hailing or goods delivery. The association has three office-holders and 12 executive committee members for now, split evenly between the three founding companies. Its first president is Mr Jason Parke, general manager and head of operations at Deliveroo Singapore. More On This Topic Food delivery war in S'pore hots up even as some players drop out Delivery set to remain an essential part of business for restaurants even post-pandemic Asked if the association could affect competition or create conflicts of interest among its members, its spokesman said the DPIA will comply with the rules of the Registry of Societies and the Competition Act. Prof Fan said with adequate safeguards, such as avoiding discussions on worker remuneration, the association should not have a negative impact on competition, and instead foster more dialogue within the sector. National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Associate Professor Nitin Pangarkar said the companies appear to be showing a united front in order to put forward their side of the story. “But the Singapore Government is less susceptible to lobbying than in other countries, so I don’t know how successful that representation would be,” he added. Prof Pangarkar said the association also represents the maturity of the food delivery industry, which had been focused mainly on growth and gaining market share. Mr Li Jianggan, founder of tech investment firm Momentum Works, said the companies now need to aim for profitability rather than growth, meaning a shift from customer acquisition and discounts to operational effiency. More On This Topic Ride-hailing and delivery jobs are here to stay - let's make them work Gig workers in S'pore need more structural support: Observers Mr Li, who was foodpanda Singapore’s managing director for five months in 2015, said collaboration between the food delivery firms is not unexpected given the issues that need to be tackled, such as those around worker welfare. “The best approach to address some of these issues is to form industry and ecosystem-wide dialogues, and that has been the case in other more established industries,” he added. NUS business professor Lawrence Loh said it is good that the companies are taking the initiative to work together to tackle these issues. But he flagged that because the three firms make up almost the entire food delivery sector, consumers and workers may not have a choice should the association decide to make similar changes to their policies. “They should strive for the highest possible protections, not the lowest common denominator,” he said. GET ALL FOR $0.99/MONTH Want more exclusives, sharp insights into what's happening at home and abroad? Subscribe now. ST ONE DIGITAL PACKAGE - MONTHLY $9.90 $0.99/MONTH No contract $0.99/month for the first 3 months, $9.90/month thereafter. T&Cs apply. 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