With the new scheme, eligible workers who are members can receive support in the form of $250 worth of NTUC FairPrice vouchers within 72 hours upon successful application.
The new scheme, NTUC Care Fund (Work Injury Relief) will be available to taxi drivers, private-hire drivers and delivery riders who are members of the following National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) affiliated organisations:
- The National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) e.g., freelance delivery rider/driver/walker
- The National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) e.g., private hire car/limousine/combi bus driver
- The National Taxi Association (NTA) e.g., taxi hirer and relief drivers
This scheme will provide aid to eligible freelance point-to-point and delivery workers who encounter injuries while on the course of work. A total of S$120,000 has been committed by NTUC-U Care Fund (U Care Fund) and the associations for this scheme.
Why must give assistance ah?
Did you know that there are currently no financial assistance schemes specifically targeted at taxi drivers, private hire drivers and freelance delivery workers who get injured on the job? Also if these workers don’t work because of injuries, their source of income will stop.
According to NTUC, the inherent risks from being on the road, aggravated by working in “less-than-ideal conditions” such as during heavy rain, make them vulnerable and more susceptible to injuries.
“If they sustain injury while working, these self-employed members must wait nearly two weeks before he or she can expect to receive financial help from government or community bodies in view of the processing time.”
So this scheme is aimed to provide some form of immediate relief while the worker awaits the outcome of their applications from other assistance programmes or insurance claims. Affected members can apply for the scheme via their associations. Upon successful application, the associations aim to disburse the voucher within 48 – 72 hours.
If they don’t support…. Then you want to help these injured workers and give them money ah? Ah you give lah.
Also, according to NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng,
“When freelance point-to-point and delivery workers come into hardship at work, their immediate concern is usually whether they are able to continue earning. For those who sustain injuries and find it difficult or unable to continue working, this becomes even more worrying. This is where NTUC has leveraged our collective strengths, pooling together a care fund that is specifically targeted for workers in such dire situations. Our affiliated associations will strive to disburse the relief within three days of applications, and we hope this will go some way in providing immediate relief to affected members while they focus on their recovery.”
What kind of injuries are we talking about?
Eligible members will receive S$250 NTUC FairPrice vouchers if prescribed medical or hospitalisation leave for a continuous period of five or more days. According to NTUC, this is conditional on the following:
- The application has to be submitted within 2 weeks from the issue date of medical or hospitalisation leave, or two weeks after member is discharged from the hospital;
- Issue date of medical leave or hospitalisation leave, must not be more than 2 weeks from the date of injury; and
- Submission of proof of work and earnings for period that accident occurred
Applications begin on Jan. 15, 2024. The programme will be reviewed in mid-2024 to ensure injured members continue to be supported.
