'Unlikely, undesirable' to classify ride-hailing drivers as employees

Singapore

A NEW Californian law threatens ride-hailing firms' business models by classifying their drivers as employees. Such a move is unlikely and undesirable in Singapore, say experts and stakeholders, who point to existing protections and say such a law could jeopardise livelihoods instead.

"From a worker welfare perspective, having a legislative framework would enhance the basic rights and protections available to them," said Withers KhattarWong LLP partner Amarjit Kaur. But the platform firms would be hit as they are "premised on a flexible and relatively unregulated contractor workforce", she added.