Data of Persons with Disabilities Using Personal Mobility Aids for Freelance Delivery Work and Assessing Impact on Income from Recent Reduction of Speed Limit
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) using personal mobility aids for delivery work and assistance for potential income loss from reduced speed limits as raised by Ms See Jinli Jean. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated the Ministry does not track these figures but noted PwDs qualify for the highest Workfare Income Supplement tier of up to $2,800. He highlighted upcoming 2024 enhancements to Workfare and platform worker protections, alongside job matching and up to one year of customised coaching support through the Open Door Programme. Additionally, PwDs can access training subsidies via the Enabling Academy and participate in the Place-and-Train programme to explore alternative careers for long-term economic sustainability. These initiatives provide structured professional development and disability-specific training to help PwDs transition into more stable roles and improve their financial resilience and retirement adequacy.
Transcript
18 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many persons with disabilities (PwDs) enrolled with SG Enable are currently using personal mobility aids (PMAs) for freelance delivery work; and (b) for these PwDs who expect their income from delivery work to be reduced in view of the Active Mobility Advisory Panel’s proposal to reduce the speed limit of all motorised PMAs, what assistance can be given to (i) address the immediate impact on their finances and (ii) bolster their longer-term economic sustainability.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Social and Family Development does not track the number of persons with disabilities using personal mobility aids for freelance delivery work.
From 1 January 2023, eligible persons with disabilities, including those who do freelance delivery work, qualify for the highest Workfare Income Supplement payment tier of up to $2,800 per year, regardless of age. As announced by Prime Minister Lee at National Day Rally 2023, the Government will also be further enhancing Workfare, and more details will be announced at Budget 2024.
Moves to strengthen protections for platform workers, which will be implemented from the second half of 2024, will enable platform workers, including persons with disabilities, to improve their retirement adequacy.
Persons with disabilities who wish to explore other employment options can also tap on support under the Open Door Programme, to receive up to one year of job matching and customised employment support from trained job coaches, as well as subsidies to attend training courses by Enabling Academy – SG Enable’s disability learning hub. Persons with disabilities can also take up job and training opportunities created under the customised Place-and-Train programme.