Stronger Heat Stress Protections for Platform Workers
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns plans to engage platform operators to provide stronger heat stress protections for platform delivery workers, raised by Ms Yeo Wan Ling to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau noted that while newly mandated outdoor worker measures may not directly apply, the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for Platform Services outlines comparable heat stress guidelines. These measures require operators to advise workers to stay hydrated, take shelter, wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, and cease work if feeling unwell, with some operators also trialling cooling vests with built-in fans. Additionally, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Workplace Safety and Health Council have issued reminders and identified improvement areas regarding ACOP compliance. MOM will continue to collaborate with platform operators and platform work associations to strengthen heat stress protections.
Transcript
34 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Acting Minister for Manpower what are the Ministry's plans to engage with platform operators to provide more support to platform delivery workers so that they too can benefit from the stronger heat stress protections as required for outdoor workers from 1 December 2026.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regularly engages platform operators on the safety and health of platform workers, including heat stress protection. MOM recently announced enhanced heat stress measures for outdoor workers, such as requiring employers to provide cool drinking water near work areas and suitable clothing that protects workers from excessive heat. However, these measures may not be directly applicable to platform workers given the nature of their work. Instead, the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for Platform Services sets out heat stress measures focused on advising platform workers to take appropriate precautions that are similar to the enhanced measures, to safeguard their health in hot weather conditions.
The ACOP requires platform operators to advise platform workers to stop work and seek medical attention if feeling unwell, remind them to stay hydrated and take shelter in shaded or indoor areas when possible, and encourage them to wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing. As a further good practice, some platform operators are also trialling cooling vests with built-in fans for their riders.
In view of the heightened outdoor temperatures this year, MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health Council have issued reminders to platform operators on the importance of heat stress protection, and highlighted areas for improvement in this domain from MOM's engagements with individual platform operators on their ACOP compliance. We will continue to work with platform operators and platform work associations via appropriate channels to strengthen heat stress protections for platform workers.