Proposed amendments to transport related Acts proof that govt serious above safeguarding p-hailing riders

The recent dialogue session between the p-hailing delivery rider associations and vendors with Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong is very significant in that he had immediately responded to complaints and problems raised by the p-hailing rider community regarding several issues.

In fact, the Road Transport Act 1987, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act 1987 and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 will be amended to safeguard the p-hailing delivery riders.

Dr Wee who is also the MCA President has also given the assurance that the p-hailing stakeholders will be involved in discussions involving the formation of a p-hailing regulatory body in the future.

This regulatory body under the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will not only protect the welfare and rights of p-hailing riders, it will also ensure the safety of the public as it involves amendments to road transport legislations. This is important considering that the majority of p-hailing riders are young adults.

The misunderstanding that arose about the purported requirement for a Goods Driving Licence (GDL) was also clarified by the Transport Minister. He has since made clear that the conditions to obtain the special vocational licence for p-hailing riders that will be introduced later are not the same as the requirement to obtain a GDL.

On the other hand, the special vocational licence that will be created later is to have a registry of p-hailing riders so that their welfare would be protected. Dr Wee has given the assurance that the p-hailing riders will be looked after by MoT and the agencies under it.

P-hailing riders who have already registered with MoT may later be considered as official employment status, i.e. permanent employment. This is because if it is only a part-time employment status, the existing social safety net is not sufficient to protect the welfare and rights of part-time workers.

It is common knowledge that job opportunities through the gig economy have helped lessen the country's overall unemployment rate during the pandemic, expanded the purchasing power of low-income families, reduced the B40 group's dependence on government aid and decreased the rate of public movements when the country struggled with the spread of COVID-19.

The time has arrived to reocgnise the p-hailing industry for its role that contributes towards the national economy.

-MCA online-