Platform Worker Safety Workgroup Study on Unsafe Incentive Structures and Delivery Targets, and Expected Timeline for Recommendations
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the methodology used by the Platform Worker (PW) Safety Workgroup to study the safety impacts of incentive structures, and its timeline for recommendations, raised by Mr Jackson Lam to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau highlighted that the Approved Code of Practice for Platform Services already prohibits platform operators from imposing time-based completion incentives or penalties. She noted that Ministry of Manpower reviews found no evidence indicating that platform worker accidents were caused by unsafe driving behaviour resulting from incentive structures. Furthermore, platform operators and platform work associations have established additional guardrails ensuring incentives do not promote excessively long working hours without adequate rest. The PW Safety Workgroup, formed in March 2026, continues to examine accident causal factors and expects to conclude its work and share recommendations by end-2026.
Transcript
74 Mr Jackson Lam asked the Acting Minister for Manpower on the Platform Worker (PW) Safety Workgroup convened by the Ministry (a) what methodology, if any, is the Workgroup using to study if platform incentive structures inadvertently encourage unsafe riding or driving behaviour, including time-based bonuses, delivery targets and peak-hour incentives; and (b) what is the estimated timeline, if any, for the Workgroup to share its findings and recommendations.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) shares the Member's concerns on the importance of strengthening platform worker (PW) safety. The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for Platform Services states that platform operators (POs) should not set any limit, penalty, or bonus incentive for completing a job within a certain time. In monitoring compliance with the ACOP, MOM reviewed accidents involving PWs, cross-checking the POs' records of the PW's work history and remuneration, and obtaining information on their incentive structures. We have not found any evidence that these accidents were caused by unsafe riding or driving behaviour arising from platform incentive structures.
Notwithstanding this, MOM has worked with POs, the National Trades Union Congress and platform work associations (PWAs) to address potential safety risks from incentives upstream. Beyond the existing requirements in the ACOP, POs and PWAs have jointly developed additional guardrails on payment and incentive schemes, including that incentives should not encourage PWs to work excessively long periods without adequate rest. This framework enables PWAs to raise safety concerns on incentive schemes to POs for bilateral discussion and mitigation.
The PW Safety Workgroup, formed in March 2026, is discussing further measures to improve platform work safety and will continue to study the role of incentives and other potential causal factors for accidents involving PWs. The Workgroup expects to conclude its work by end-2026 and will share its recommendations when ready.