More employers should get on board improved terms for contract workers

WITH the rise of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab, e-commerce providers such as Amazon and Lazada and other platforms that enable sellers of goods and services to connect directly with buyers, contract workers and the self-employed are likely to comprise an increasing proportion of the workforce.

Even leaving aside technology platforms, contract-work arrangements are becoming more commonplace, as companies across various industries rely on staffing agencies to supply them with workers on demand.

This makes sense for companies. By using contract workers, they do not need to maintain as many permanent employees on their payroll, which keeps costs down. Contract workers also enable companies to conveniently cater to temporary periods of peak demand.